Day before ‘jalabhishek’ in Varanasi, chief of Hindu Mahasabha arrested
ABHM had given a call to its workers from across the country to reach Varanasi on August 3 and perform ‘Jalabhishek’ at Shringar Gauri, as part of its campaign — ‘Islam Mukt Bharat'.
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To allegedly prevent pro-Hindu outfit Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) from performing ‘Jalabhishek’ on Monday at Shringar Gauri — a religious place near Gyanvapi Masjid and Kashi Vishwanth Temple in Varanasi — its national president was arrested from his office in Lucknow’s Naka area on Sunday.
While Kamlesh Tiwari was arrested, raids were also conducted in Gorakhpur to arrest ABHM state president Piyush Kant Verma, who was to lead the programme in Varanasi Monday.
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At Shringar Gauri, performing religious rituals is not allowed. The area remains barricaded for the public with CRPF personnel camping nearby.
ABHM had given a call to its workers from across the country to reach Varanasi on August 3 and perform ‘Jalabhishek’ at Shringar Gauri, as part of its campaign — ‘Islam Mukt Bharat’ — and take a pledge for getting the mosque removed from Kashi Vishwanath Temple’s area. For the event, it had chosen August 3 — the first Monday of the month of Saavan. Several lakh devotees visits Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the day.
ABHM office-bearers had not sought permission from the Varanasi district administration for the programme, claiming they don’t need permission from any authority to offer prayers at a Hindu religious place.
Before his arrest on Sunday, Tiwari told The Indian Express that ‘Jalabhishek’ was aimed at launching an agitation to “free Gyanvapi area from Muslims”.
“Any illegal programme planned through any such call or propaganda will not be allowed. The police was keeping watch on ABHM workers,” said ADG (Law and Order) Daljeet Chaudhary.
Superintendent of Police (Security), Kashi Vishwanth temple, Arun Kumar Pandey, said: “Nobody will be allowed to perform any ritual other than what is the tradition. If ABHM workers try to enter the temple area, necessary action will be taken against them.”
Police personnel from other districts have been called in to take necessary steps to stop ABHM workers, said Varanasi SSP Jogendra Kumar. “Other preventive steps would also be taken if they reach Varanasi.”
Naka police Station Officer Ram Pradeep said: “ABHM president Kamlesh Tiwari was arrested to stop him from reaching Varanasi to perform Jalabhishek. He will remain under arrest for at least 24 hours.”
After Tiwari’s arrest, ABHM spokesperson Shishir Chaturvedi said while police have raided state president Piyush Kant Verma’s residence in Gorakhpur, he had escaped as he left home early in apprehension. “Several workers have been arrested in Gorakhpur but we are still firm on our decision. Workers from other districts will reach Varanasi on Monday to perform Jalabhishek,” he said.
To seek the masses’ support, ABHM had prepared posters with various slogans — “Chalo Kashi, Islam mukt Bharat hamari zid hai, hamara adhikar hai”, “Kashi Vishwanath me namaz nahin, ab ghoonjega kewal Om Namah Shivay”, “Hindutva jai maan bharti, khoon se tilak karo goliyon se aarti,” among others.
It also plans to contest the state Assembly elections in 2017.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena on Sunday announced that it will perform the ritual at the same site (in Shrigar Gauri temple in Varanasi) either on August 22 or 23. Its state president Anil Singh said party’s Aurangabad MP Chandrakant Khaire will lead the programme. “Shrigar Gauri is a religious place of Parvati but the administration does not allow Hindus to offer prayers there in Saavan month,” Singh said.
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