VHP goes slow on ‘ jal abhishek’ Kanwariyas create row in Moradabad

The Hindu month of “Saawan” in Uttar Pradesh over the years had become almost synonymous with the programmes of “jal abhishek” by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad ( VHP) that invariably led to a confrontational situation with the government.

This year, the VHP seems to have taken a back seat and has not announced any programme for “jal abhishek”, but it is the BJP that is concentrating on generating heat on issues related to Hindutva.

“The VHP has toned its programmes ever since the Modi government came to power and this is because of the well known differences between Mr Modi and senior VHP leaders ( read Mr Praveen Togadia). We are going ahead with our “jal abhishek” programme but we have chosen not to call for public participation and publicise the same for obvious reasons,” said a VHP leader on condition of anonymity.

It may be recalled that last year, the VHP had announced the “84- Kosi parikrama” in Ayodhya in August even though the parikrama is usually held in April- May. The event was banned by the state government and led to detention of top VHP leaders. This year, despite the Modi government at the Centre, the VHP has decided to maintain a low profile.

The BJP, on the other hand, is working overtime to keep the heat on the state government on issues related to Hindutva. BJP leaders will be marching to Kaanth in Moradabad on Saturday Tension prevailed in Moradabad on Friday when some kanwariyas insisted on performing “jal abhishek” at a Shiv temple in the district and were prevented from doing so by the local officials. The kanwariyas raised slogans and insisted on going ahead with their ritual, but the officials informed them that in view of prohibitory orders imposed in the district, they would not be allowed to move about in large groups. to register an FIR against Moradabad SSP Dharamvir Yadav for his alleged attack on BJP workers earlier this month.

It may be recalled that BJP workers, on July 4, had convened a mahapanchayat in Kaanth to protest against the administration’s refusal to allow loudspeakers on a local temple and this led to violent clashes between the BJP workers and the police in which the then district magistrate Chandrakant lost his one eye.

Meanwhile, the state administration is gearing up for the Moradabad march and Section 144 has been imposed in the region.

“We are deploying security forces in ample measures to ensure that there is no escalation of communal tension in the area. Any decision regarding arrest or detention of protesters will be taken as the situation unfolds. We have also installed CCTV cameras on important routes,” said IG ( law and order) Amrendra Sengar.