Mathura (UP): The Dharam Raksha Sangh, a Hindu nationalist outfit based in Vrindavan, has issued a statement expressing distrust towards the Muslim community and alleged the possibility of disturbances during the Holi celebrations.
The group has urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to impose restrictions on their participation.
Dharam Raksha Sangh’s national president Saurabh Gaur claimed that recent incidents in Bareilly showed people belonging to the Muslim community threatening the Hindus.
“We have decided to prohibit the entry of Muslims in Holi celebrations at major pilgrimage sites like Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, Barsana, Gokul and Dauji,” he stated.
The organisation declared that Holi is a festival of love and harmony for the Sanatan community and opposed any involvement of Muslims in selling colours or entering the festivities.
“We still perceive a threat from their intentions. They could cause disturbances,” Gaur alleged.
Supporting the demand, Dharam Raksha Sangh’s national coordinator Acharya Badrish likened the Muslims to “separatists and jihadists” and urged the government to enforce a ban similar to restrictions placed on Muslim participation in Garba festivities in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
“Since they object to colours and gulal, they have no place in our Holi celebrations,” he remarked.
Badrish suggested that Muslims could be allowed if they provided a written assurance to the Hindus.
Meanwhile, Dinesh Sharma, a petitioner in the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute, wrote a letter to the chief minister in his blood and demanded a ban on the entry of Muslims into Braj’s Holi celebrations.
Meanwhile, UP DGP Prashant Kumar held a video conference with senior officials on Sunday to review the security and law and order situation ahead of the upcoming festivals, including Ramzan, Holi and Eid ul-Fitr.
As per a press statement, the meeting focused on reinforcing law and order across the state. Several critical points were discussed, with specific measures laid out to ensure peace, safety and security during the festivities.
The DGP asked the officials to make the intelligence system more vigilant, especially in tracking the activities of anti-social, undesirable and communal elements. The officers were advised to treat even the smallest piece of information seriously and take appropriate legal actions swiftly.
The meeting was attended by all Zonal Additional Director Generals of Police, Police Commissioners, Regional Inspectors General of Police, Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Senior Superintendents of Police, Superintendents of Police, and District in charges across the state.
