BJP MLA booked following tensions outside Jaipur mosque

“While we were praying, Balmukund and his supporters barged into the mosque compound, placed a ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ poster on the ground, kicked it, and started shouting slogans. Such an incident has never happened before,” said Hafiz Mansoor Ali Khan, a member of the Jama Masjid committee.

Although the entire episode was captured by the mosque’s CCTV cameras, the committee decided not to release the footage on Friday night to prevent escalation.

After leaving the mosque, Acharya and his supporters continued their sloganeering at the nearby Badi Chaupad area, leading to a riot-like situation with nearly 1,500 people from Hindu and Muslim communities gathering at the spot. Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph intervened, urging both sides to maintain peace.

Gur Bhupendra Singh, SHO of Manak Chowk Police Station, confirmed that an FIR was filed against Balmukund Acharya on Saturday morning based on a complaint by the Jama Masjid committee. “The situation on Friday night was extremely tense. We managed to control the crowd with considerable difficulty. The FIR has been filed under Sections 298, 300, 302, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to offences against religion,” Singh said.

Facing public outrage and backlash over the near-riot situation, the BJP appeared to distance itself from the incident. BJP state president Madan Rathore told the media, “I spoke to Balmukund Acharya, who said he was participating in a protest against the Pahalgam incident. He claimed he was trying to calm the crowd that reached the mosque. However, I firmly told him that no one should enter a mosque. Such actions create communal divisions, and we must remain united against anti-national forces, not target innocent citizens. We respect all religions.”

Attempts by The Indian Express to contact Acharya were unsuccessful. However, BJP sources revealed that party leaders reprimanded the MLA for his conduct. With little support from the party, Balmukund Acharya later posted a statement on social media, pledging not to enter mosques again and to limit his activities to temples. He also issued an apology to those hurt by his actions.

Meanwhile, the Jama Masjid committee held a press conference condemning the MLA’s actions. Congress MLAs Amin Kagzi and Rafiq Khan, present at the conference, stated, “As Indians, we will always condemn Pakistan’s hostile actions. However, Balmukund Acharya is misleading the public by claiming he didn’t enter the mosque, even though CCTV footage proves otherwise. Such behavior is unacceptable. We urge the government to take strict action, including arresting those responsible. The Muslim community is deeply hurt by this incident, and there must be no attempts to shield the MLA.”

By Saturday evening, around 6:30 pm, hundreds of Muslim community mmbers staged protests under heavy police presence. As tensions continue to simmer, business owners worry about mounting losses, police strive to maintain peace, and Balmukund Acharya remains conspicuously absent from Jaipur, avoiding accountability for the unrest he helped trigger.