‘Don’t allow Neja Mela’: Hindu outfits write to Bahraich, Bhadohi admin

Mahmud Ghazni is said to have invaded India several times, primarily to plunder wealth and expand his empire.

Hindu organisations in Bahraich and Bhadohi have claimed public anger has grown over this issue, and also alleged that some “illegal activities” take place during the Mela.

Hindu Jagran Manch’s Bhadohi district convener, Rameshwar Singh, has requested Chief Minister and also the district administration to permanently discontinue the Mela held in the Marydpatti area of the district.

Singh said, “I said in my application that the annual Mela is hosted in the first week of May month at a mazaar of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi, an invader responsible for the destruction of the Somnath temple in Gujarat. We requested the district administration to permanently discontinue the event due to public unrest and to maintain communal harmony and public order.”

Bhadohi district president Deepak Mishra confirmed that Rameshwar Singh is associated with the Hindu Jagran Manch in the district.

Rameshwar Singh added that Syed Salar Masood Ghazi has no historical connection to Bhadohi, yet the fair continues to be organised in his name. “Moreover, there are concerns that activities such as religious conversions may be taking place during the Mela,” said Singh.

Additional District Magistrate, Bhadohi, Kunwar Virendra Maurya said they submitted a memorandum to the state government in which a request was made to discontinue the Mela.

VHP’s Bahraich district convenor (Vidhi Prakost), Ajeet Pratap Singh, has submitted a memorandum to the district administration and police demanding that the Mela held in remembrance of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi be discontinued, as Sambhal has already prohibited it.

“I have requested in the letter to impose a similar restriction on the fair held at the dargah in Bahraich. Syed Salar Masood arrived in Bahraich, where he was confronted by a united army led by Maharaja Suheldev and other rulers. The battle resulted in Masood’s death…,” he claimed.

“The Mela held at this site has now become a centre for activities such as land encroachment, religious conversions and other issues that require urgent attention. In light of these concerns, I urge the administration to prohibit the Mela and Urs at the dargah in Bahraich,” said Singh, adding that he had sent a memorandum to officials in the state government in Lucknow.

BJP’s Bhadohi district president Brijesh Pandey confirmed that Ajeet Pratap Singh is associated with VHP.

Police and administrative officials in Bahraich refused to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, the organisers of the Neja Mela, which was held annually in Bilari tehsil of Moradabad, have reportedly informed the district administration that they will not be organising the event this year.

The Mela, traditionally held after the Holi festival, takes place in Thawala village under Bilari tehsil.

Moradabad Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vinay Kumar Singh said that so far, no one has approached the administration seeking permission to hold the Mela in Moradabad.

Earlier on Monday, the Sambhal police denied permission for the annual Neja Mela this year citing “public objections” to organising an event in the memory of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi. The

Neja (javelin) Mela is traditionally held in a few places in Sambhal, a week after Holi. Police also warned the committee members of the Mela that action would be taken if any attempt was made to set up a memorial, terming it an “evil practice and not a tradition.”