New Delhi: Mithu Nath, leader of the right-wing Bajrang Dal, was seen issuing a threat to people at an event in Assam saying Hindus who visit churches to take part in Christmas celebrations will be "beaten". ALSO READ | Farmers Continue To Protest After No Breakthrough With Centre, Next Talks On Dec 9, Bharat Bandh On Dec 8 | Key Points


Mithu Nath, the General Secretary of the district unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (the Bajrang Dal's parent body) was speaking at an event at Silchar in Assam's Cachar district when he made this controversial remark, a report by NDTV revealed.

He said that he is "outraged" by the alleged shut down of the Vivekananda Centre in Christian-majority Meghalaya state capital Shillong.

Then he went on to threaten that Hindus will "not be allowed" to attend Christmas Day programmes and festivities.

"The Hindus (who visit churches) will be beaten because I revile the Hindus who would go and have fun at a Christian function after they shut down our places of worship. No Hindu will go to church this Christmas. We will make sure of it," Nath reportedly said.

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"If we do so (assault Hindus) I know the headlines in newspapers the next day - "Gunda Dal" has vandalised Oriental school.. but that is not our priority. We will not allow Hindus in programmes during Christmas when they are locking gates of temples in Shillong," he added.

The claims of Khasi student union shutting down a temple have reportedly been refuted by a top official of the Meghalaya government with the clarification that the cultural centre has been closed (not locked) because of a district holiday. Adding that no temple of the Ramakrishna Mission had been shut.

The issue of alleged "Love Jihad" was also racked by him as he said, "People call us 'Gunda Dal' but, if these criticisms are the price to pay for protecting our mothers and daughters from being pulled to the wrong way, we are happy to pay".

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