Amid the chants of Jai Shree Ram and in a mist of Ganga Jal, Bajrang Dal activists entered Vastrapur Lake in Ahmedabad and began their mission to ‘purify’ the place. They performed a ‘havan’ and sprinkled ‘Ganga Jal’ asserting that the ground has become ‘impure’. They also chanted Vedic mantras and staged a protest against two women and four men who were reading namaz in the garden.
A hugely incensed and ‘hurt’ Jwalit Mehta, North Gujarat president of Bajrang Dal explained: “A Muslim family was visiting a hospital in Vastrapur. When they wanted to read namaz, they could have easily gone to the terrace of the hospital. Instead, they chose to come to Vastrapur lake, a public area to display and propagate that they can carry out their religious things even in a Hindu dominated area. They wanted to give an indirect message that they come into an area and do whatever they want. They want to scare the Hindus and we should not tolerate it? Have you ever seen a Hindu carrying out aarti or chanting Hanuman Chalisa in a Muslim area?
“A few days ago a Muslim read Namaz here, they made it impure. We have performed a ‘havan’ and purified the land by sprinkling Gangajal on the ground. If any organisation or person tries to target the Hindu samaj or reads Namaz in Hindu dominated areas, Bajrangdal won’t let it happen.” chimed in another Bajrang Dal member.
“If Bajrang Dal notices any such incident, they wouldn’t shy away from reading Hanuman Chalisa inside a masjid as well. By doing such acts (namaz) in public areas they are setting a wrong example in a Hindu community. May Lord Hanuman bless them with sadbuddhi (wisdom),” he added.
Congress MLA from Jamalpur, Imran Khedawala, seemed to agree. “Anyone reading Namaz in public or displaying their religious sentiments or rituals in public is uncalled for. Generally, Namaz is read in a mosque or in any hygienic area. Everyone should respect the public place and consider that it should not disturb others. Another thing is, this might be an incident planted to spread communal hatred.”
BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas was dismissive of the incident. “Law and order should be maintained in a civilized society. That’s our only concern. Efforts should be made to uphold law and order.”
