Idol purified after Muslim mayor garlands it
ALIGARH: A group of Hindu activists on Friday “purified” the lifesize idol of Shri Akrur Ji Maharaj, a mythological figure revered by Varshney community, after it was garlanded by Aligarh mayor Mohammad Furqan.
Not just the idol, the activists also used Ganga Jal to clean the Akrur Park where the anniversary function of the deity was held. “The mayor is a Muslim and belongs to the BSP. His touch has made the Akrur Ji Maharaj statue unholy and so it had to be purified,” said Brijesh Kantak, city convener, Dharam Jagran Samnvya Samiti, an affiliate of RSS. “Politicians are not invited in such religious events. The mayor should not have participated,” said Kantak, who had earlier too opposed Furqan when he was elected as mayor.
BJP city secretary Vinay Varshney said, “The current mayor was with BSP MLA Zamiruullah Khan during the 2006 riots and had said that forty people will be killed in retaliation of four killed by the Hindu side. We will not tolerate those who make provocative speeches.”
“I organise the event every year and invite all seven MLAs, MP and MLCs — irrespective of the political party they belong to. Those who come are welcome and those who don’t are also respected,” said Manoj Gupta, organisational secretary, Akrur Ji Maharaj Shobha Yatra.
“Mayor is the first resident of the city. Nobody should oppose his entry on the basis of his religion ,” said Gupta. “If some people are washing the statue what can I do? It is their act,” said the mayor. Temple manager Radhey Shayam Gupta said, “The mayor had also attended the community lunch and accepted the ‘prasad’. How can I deny him entry?”
PRADEEP SAXENA