On the directions of a former BJP minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, as many as 20 youths barged inside the Jama Masjid on Wednesday and demanded to hoist the national flag on the premises. The group of men shouted slogans which were opposed by Muslim youths who also sloganeered in retaliation. Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari said that it was an attempt to create a communal tension which was thwarted.
There was panic at the Jama Masjid around 9:55 am demanding to hoist the national flag. The group, on directions of BJP leader IP Singh, raising slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", "Vande Mataram" and "Har Har Mahadev" with the tricolour in their hands barged inside the main gate. They climbed the stairs and reached near gate number 1 and constantly shouted slogans. Some youths who were present at the Masjid opposed this and in retaliation shouted "Shahi Imam zindabad". Some of the slogans were offensive as well, the youths said.
Speaking to DNA, Syed Ahmed Bukhari said that when he was informed about the incident, people from his office were rushed to the location and after efforts and talks were asked to leave the premises. Since it was Independence Day, neither was there any police officer at the police post nor at the main gate and the Station House Officer (SHO) of Jama Masjid was also not present in the area. "The entire episode was over in 15-20 minutes but the intention was not right. If anyone wants to hoist the flag they should do at their homes or offices or wherever. But such kind of practice will only create communal tensions for no reason," said Bukhari.
Despite several calls and messages, Mandeep Randhawa, DCP Central did not respond.
In the evening on Thursday, the PRO of Jama Masjid submitted a complaint describing the incident to senior police officials. In the complaint, they said that the incident by a group of men was done to create tensions and the incident was a pre-planned conspiracy. "The Muslims in the country respect the national flag but that doesn't mean that the flag would be hoisted inside the Jama Masjid as the tricolour is not hoisted in the Jama Masjid and such incident would only create disharmony," said the complaint.
GROUP OF MEN BARGED IN
- Panic arose at the Jama Masjid on Wednesday morning after a group of around 20-25 men led by IP Singh, a former minister in UP government barged inside around 9:55 am demanding to hoist the national flag.
- The group raising slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “Vande Mataram.”
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