At VHP event in Manesar, warning to maulvis: ‘Pack your belongings’

“I want to tell those maulvis, pack up your belongings or else the people of Manesar will not leave you… Ye Hindu rashtra tha, hai aur rahega,” he added.

Those who pray at the mosque have maintained it is built on private land and repair work was going on there. The village sarpanch, too, had said that locals had no objection to the mosque and outsiders were involved in the incident. Police had booked 8-10 people in connection with the incident.

Sunday’s programme comes three months after a panchayat organised at a temple in Manesar by members of Bajrang Dal and VHP called for an economic boycott of “Muslim shopkeepers and vendors”.

Jain also targeted the police, saying, “In Mewat, cow slaughter is rampant, but police do not dare to take action. Unko saza dete hein, toh hamare Manesar ke Bajrangi… ghar mein ghus kar maarte hain.”

Jain also called namaz in public places a “show of strength” and added: “Ye namaz nahi fasad hai. Wo namaz nahi padna chahte, aatank failana chaahte hain (They do not want to offer prayers, they want to spread terror).”

Devender Singh, zila mantri from VHP Manesar, who was among the organisers, said, “A pledge was taken to protect Bharat Mata and the country… We will not use weapons in an individual or personal capacity, but if the need arises under some circumstances to protect our nation and motherland and for our religion (dharm raksha) or for the honour of our mothers and sisters, then we can use weapons.”