BJP ‘interrupts’ Ramzan prayers, Dehra Dun tense

BJP workers allegedly prevented a group of Muslims from offering special prayers during Ramzan in Dehra Dun’s Rispana Nagar colony on T...

BJP workers allegedly prevented a group of Muslims from offering special prayers during Ramzan in Dehra Dun’s Rispana Nagar colony on Tuesday night.

The area remained tense today and police were deployed to maintain peace. Officials said trouble began when a group of BJP workers started shouting slogans outside a godown owned by Karim Khan, where a group of Muslims had gathered to offer special prayers for Ramzan.

BJP leader Vinod Chamoli, who led the protest, alleged that the Muslims were trying to convert the godown into a mosque. He began a dharna on the spot along with his supporters.

Story continues below this ad

The Muslims tried to reason with him that they use the godown for holding prayers only during Ramzan and that such prayers do not take more than 45 minutes. But the BJP workers stuck to their protest and the Muslims responded by raising counter slogans.

A clash was prevented by the timely intervention of the police. Both sides were called for negotiations and it was decided that only 15 Muslims will be allowed to assemble at the private godown for the prayers.

Qamar Siddiqui, president of the Dehra Dun unit of the NCP, said Muslim leaders met several Congress Ministers, including Forest Minister Navparbhat and Transport Minister Hira Singh Bisht, but no one has offered to intervene.