Muslim mob targets Kanwariyas again in Jaipur; Muslim appeasement trumps Hindu devotion for Gehlot government

Jaipur, August 13 (IANS): In yet another incident of communal clashes reported in Jaipur, around 20 people were left injured while a truck and van were burnt and several cars damaged after the Muslim community members pelted stones at Kanwariyas. Police have suspended internet services for 24 hours in 10 police station areas of the city to avert any untoward incident. The incident came to light at Subhash Chowk police station area where Muslim youths pelted stones on Kawadiyas on the issue of raising shiva slogans at a shiv temple situated at Chaar Darwaza. Over a dozen kanwardiyas were injured in the incident. The police forced reached on time to avert the major incident.

It needs to be furnished that a Kanwar yatra culminates at Shiva temple situated at chaar darwaza area very year. This year too, it reached here, however, the kanwariyas were thrashed when they were raising slogans in Shiva praise and trying to hoist a flag on temple. The Muslim mob even snatched the police forces’ lathi and used it to beat the innocents. One Deva was injured severely and has been admitted to police station.

Internet services were suspended in around 10 police stations in Jaipur from Monday night for 24 hours, confirmed police commissioner Anand Shrivastav on Tuesday. A strong police force have been deputed in different parts of the city, he added. Meanwhile police sources confirmed that a small tussle which erupted on Sunday turned gruesome on Sunday night around 11 pm when people from a particular community started pelting stone on a bus going to Haridwar in front of Galta Gate at Delhi Road.

The protestors started raising inciting slogans and soon after other community also came forward. The protestors also smashed window glasses of around 10 vehicles and pelted stones injuring many. Even policemen were injured in the incident. Tear gas shells were also lobbed to disperse the crowd. Meanwhile a big traffic jam halted the smooth traffic flow.

Police could control the crowd by 2 am. Extra police force have been deputed at Aihtiyatan Ram Gunj, Transport Nagar and Galta Gate among other areas. Meanwhile, Shrivastav said that any one is yet to be arrested however case has been arrested against 25-30 people. It needs to be reminded that internet services were suspended on July 2 in around 10 police stations following violent protests over the rape of a child even when the accused was member of a Muslim community. At that time too, many vehicles and homes of Hindu families were damaged.

Such cases have been on rise due to derelict attitude of police officials who have been unable to check the crime rate in state under Gehlot government. Meanwhile, in an other incident, kanwariyas were left anguished when police officials directed the DJ to stop playing bhajans and patriotic songs when they were taking out a yatra. They staged dharna there itself. One of kanwadiyas said, “If I can’t play patriotic song in India, should he play it in Pakistan. A police team reached the location and placated them.

Such cases are being reported from different parts of Rajasthan as police machinery looks crumbling, said one of the kanwariyas.