A picture and video of the occasion of Ram Navami in Bihar’s Katihar is going viral on social media where people are seen forming a human chain in front of Jama Masjid in the district.
Several people have shared this images, describing them as a ray of hope and wished for such humanity, including renowned writer Asghar Wajahat and bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar. Actresses Urmila Matondkar and Shruti Seth have also shared this picture.
However, the organizers of the procession have denied claims saying that they did not form human to save mosque.
“We did not form a human chain (human chain) to save the mosque. The people involved in our procession should not face any kind of difficulty, so we make a procession by making a human chain,” Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) district minister Ritesh Dubey told BBC Hindi.
During Ram Navami on April 10, a seven kilometre long procession organized by Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organizations took place in Katihar district. Large number of people, including women and children participated in the procession which started around 1.30 pm and ended at 7pm.
This procession, like other events of the occasion of birth of Ram, was taken out with sticks and swords. According to the organizers, it is the traditional weapon of Rama.
On the way of the Ram Navami procession, two mosques fall on the road — one is Jama Masjid located on MG Road, whose picture of human chain has gone viral and the second one is at Bata Chowk.
Speaking to BBC Hindi over the phone, Pawan Poddar, Bajrang Dal coordinator, said, “Stone pelting has become common on Ramnavami. We had formed this human chain so that no anti-social element should spoil our procession by joining it.”
Thus, there no purpose like the security of the mosque in this, Poddar also denied the claims of trying to save the mosque. He asked, “What danger can the mosque cause from the procession? No Hindu strikes first. Even before, once the procession passed through the area of mosques. It was incited by showing sticks and wands. That’s why we stand so that there is no disturbance. Every action has a reaction and if something like this happens then everyone will say that Ram Navami people attacked.”
Before such religious events, peace committee meetings are held in which representatives of all religions are included.
Manzoor Khan, a member of the peace committee formed told the BBC, “The boys did this to take the people or the crowd forward. I myself was present there for a while.”
While the organizers are denying any connection between the human chain and the security of the mosque, Katihar SDM Shankar Sharan Omi said the organizers of the procession made a security cordon so that Muslims do not face any kind of problem.
“The organizers took this step while taking security. It was the time of Namaz and at that time the followers of Muslim religion practice purity. During the Ram Navami procession, people blow Abir Gulal (coloured powders), so this kind of action should not happen in that area, people stood by forming a human chain,” he said.
Among those who made this picture related to Ram Navami procession viral on social media is Syed Tariq Anwar, Vice President of Samajwadi Party, Jhansi district.
Anwar told BBC Hindi, “I saw this video and picture on Twitter, which I liked, then shared the picture on Facebook and wrote that these Hindus, standing by each other’s hands to protect the mosque in Bihar, act as raindrops in the scorching sun. Done.”
However, when the news channel asked him whether he had received information about it or confirmed it from any local person other than Twitter or Facebook, he had no answer to it.
