Mosques & Mazar Covered Along Kanwar Yatra Route In Haridwar, Action Reversed As Congress Slams BJP

In Haridwar, two mosques and a mazar were covered with white sheets to prevent potential trouble during the Kanwar Yatra. This action was met with objections and the sheets were removed by the evening.

In a move to prevent potential trouble during the Kanwar Yatra, facades of two mosques and a mazar in Haridwar's Jwalapur area were covered with large white sheets on Friday. This step, however, sparked objections from various quarters and the sheets were removed by the evening. The sheets, hung on bamboo scaffoldings, were placed without any prior administrative order, according to the mosque's maulana and the mazar's caretakers. They stated that it was the first time such a measure had been taken during the yatra.

According to news agency  PTI, the Haridwar senior superintendent of police and the district magistrate were unavailable for comment but Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj justified the action, saying, "Any such thing is done only to prevent trouble. It is not such a big thing. We also cover buildings when they are under construction."

By evening, following objections from locals and politicians, the district administration removed the sheets. Danish Ali, a special police officer (SPO) appointed for the yatra's management, said, "We received orders from the railway police post to remove the curtains. That is why we have come to remove these", as quoted by PTI.

'Muslims Always Welcome Shiv Bhakts': Congress Slams BJP Over Move To Cover Mosques In Haridwar

Former Congress minister Naeem Qureshi expressed his dismay, saying, "We Muslims always welcome Shiv bhakts (devotees) for the Kanwar fair and arrange refreshments for them at various places. This has been an example of harmony between Hindus and Muslims in Haridwar, and there has never been a tradition of curtains."

Shakeel Ahmad, a caretaker of the mazar, noted, "No one spoke with the caretakers about this -- covering the religious structure. Kanwariyas stop under the shade of trees outside mosques and mazars to take rest. This is the first time such a step was taken."

Congress leader and former district panchayat president Rao Afaque Ali called the administration's decision "surprising" and added, "It has never happened earlier. Some kanwariyas also go to mosques to pay obeisance. India is a country where everyone takes care of every religion and caste. Today mosques are being covered, what will happen if temples are covered in this manner tomorrow?"

Uttarakhand Congress vice president Suryakant Dhasmana labelled the action as contempt of the Supreme Court. "The order to put curtains on mosques and mazars on the Kanwar Yatra route in Haridwar district, whoever has issued it, goes against the Supreme Court which has put a stay on an order which asked hotel and restaurant owners and fruit vendors on the route to display their names, caste, and religious identity," he said, as per PTI.

Criticising the ruling BJP, Dhasmana stated, "The message it has missed is that the entire country is one. BJP's divisive and discriminatory politics has been rejected. But the party is not learning."