To observe the Sri Krishna Janmastami Utsav, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Chakulia Prakhand decided to organise a procession from the bus stand at Shakuntala in Uttar Dinajpur district with a plan to end at Durga Mandir in Baligora, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal.
| WEST BENGAL |
On the auspicious day of Shri Krishna Janmastami on August 17, the procession started from the decided venue in the morning as per the programme. When the procession reached Durga Mandir, a group of about 200 Muslims under the leadership of local MLA Ali Imran Ramj, obstructed the procession. Shouting aggressive slogans against Hindus, they demanded that they would not allow the procession to move further to reach the Durga Mandir in Baligora.
The procession was given permission by the government authority to move through the specified route but because of demand of Muslims under the leadership of the local MLA, the administration instantly invalidated and an unexpected obstruction of the Muslims with the support of the police administration happened.
The leaders of VHP instantly decided to stop the programme to maintain peace and instructed the participants to go home instead of creating nuisancebut no words can describe their frustration.
The incident though seemingly small and isolated is not insignificant. It has brought to the fore issues of a governance subservient to the whims and political interests of Muslim elected leaders, and the paradoxical religious persecution of Hindus. What is even more disturbing is the inconsistency in the local government's advocacy of communal harmony and its actual practice of showing bias against Hindus in favour of Muslims. Such incidents can sow nothing but communal ill-feelings and distrust only.
—Bureau Report
