An incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur, where members of Hindutva groups, including the Bajrang Dal, allegedly vandalised parts of an old mausoleum and tried to pray inside the structure on Monday, triggered an uproar in the Assembly on Tuesday, reported The Hindu.
The Bajrang Dal is part of a group of Hindutva organisations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Hindutva groups claimed that the structure in the Abu Nagar area of Fatehpur was constructed after razing a Hindu temple. The tomb is that of Nawab Abdul Samad Khan, an official who worked for Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, according to reports.
On Monday, about 1,000 persons carrying saffron flags barged into the premises, with some using sticks to vandalise the structure, The Hindu reported. This sparked a confrontation, according to the newspaper.
The Hindu quoted Bajrang Dal member Dharmendra Singh as having said on Monday morning before the tensions erupted: “We will offer prayers here at noon. The administration will not be able to stop us. In the Hindu religion, no one can take away your right to offer prayers. It is our temple, which they are referring to as a tomb”.
On Tuesday, MLAs from the Opposition Samajwadi Party demanded a debate in the Assembly on the incident, alleging that the BJP government and its affiliate groups had conspired to disturb communal harmony in the state.
The Opposition parties sought accountability and action against the persons accused of the vandalism, claiming that BJP leaders in the area had incited the Hindutva groups to take over the mausoleum.
The state government informed the Assembly that a first information report has been filed in the matter and legal action would be taken.
Fatehpur Superintendent of Police Anoop Kumar Singh was quoted by the newspaper as saying that a case was registered against 10 identified persons and 150 unknown miscreants. Police teams have been formed to arrest the persons accused in the matter.
However, the Opposition legislators accused the government of trying to protect those responsible for the violence.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Monday that the incident in Fatehpur “was a sign of the rapidly fading mark” of the BJP.
“Whenever the BJP and its allies’ true colours start to show, conspiracies are planned to disrupt harmony,” Yadav alleged on social media. “The public has now understood this BJP tactic. Now, the public will neither get stuck in such antics nor be swayed by these incidents.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said on Tuesday that the state government “should not allow any community to take any steps that could lead to communal tension there or disrupt mutual brotherhood and harmony”.
The Adityanath government must take the matter seriously and take “strict measures” if necessary, the former chief minister said on social media.
Following the incident, Anoop Kumar Singh told ANI that police teams from 10 stations were deployed in the area.
District Magistrate Ravindra Singh told ANI that “both sides were made to understand the facts”.
“They were assured that law and order would be maintained,” he said. “We have to ensure that there is no spread of rumours. The situation is peaceful.”
You’ve read Scroll.
Now help sustain it
Scroll is funded by readers, not corporate owners. If you believe our work matters, support our newsroom. Become a member today!
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!