‘BJP Helpless In Front Of Organised Criminals’

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday condemned the BJP-led state government of Haryana and said if violence happens again in Nuh, the BJP government will be solely responsible for it.

In a post on X, he said, “Before the Nuh violence, the government knew that Muslims would be targeted under the garb of the yatra. It seems that these are not BJP’s pawns but BJP is helpless in front of these organized criminals.”

This comes as Hindu outfits remain firm on conducting the ‘shobha yatra’ in Haryana’s Nuh district. Across the state, security has been tightened as Hindu outfits said they will go ahead with the yatra in the communally-sensitive district and asserted that there is no need for the government’s permission for such religious events.

The ‘shobha yatra’ is being organised a month after violent clashes broke out during a VHP rally on July 31 and led to the deaths of six people, including two home guards and a cleric.

Mobile internet and bulk SMS services have been suspended and section 144 imposed, as a precautionary measure. Banks and all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, will remain closed on Monday.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, while denying permission to the ‘shobha yatra’ over security concerns, urged Hindus not to participate in a procession that did not have the government’s nod and to offer prayers in temples. August 28 marks the last Monday of the holy month of Shravan.

Meanwhile, anti-riot vehicles and drones have been deployed in view of the ‘shobha yatra’ and heavy security arrangements are in place in Nuh and its adjoining areas.

Security personnel have been deployed at all entry points of the district and outsiders have been barred from entering Nuh.

Haryana paramilitary and police personnel have been ordered to keep a strict vigil and security has been tightened at inter-district and inter-state borders. Police have erected multiple layers of barricades at various points and all vehicles entering Nuh are being thoroughly checked.

Communal clashes had erupted on July 31 in Nuh and its adjoining areas around the time of a similar ‘shobha yatra’; it coincided with an annual ‘jalabhishek’ ritual. The violence resulted in the death of atleast six people.

On August 13, the Sarv Jatiya Hindu Mahapanchayat raised the call to ‘resume’ the ‘shobha yatra’ on August 28 in Nuh.

Even though Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has denied permission for the ‘shobha yatra’, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has said the procession will be taken out and emphasised that there is no need to acquire permission for such religious events.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, August 26, Haryana police chief Shatrujeet Kapur had reiterated that the administration has denied permission for the ‘shobha yatra’ because a meeting of the G200 Sherpa Group is scheduled to be held from September 3 to 7 in Nuh and also in order to maintain law and order in the aftermath of the July 31 violence.

Around 1,900 Haryana Police personnel and 24 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Nuh, according to police sources.

The road leading to the Nalhar temple — the destination of the ‘shobha yatra’ — has been closed and all entry points to Nuh have been sealed using barricades.