Following an announcement by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha that it will install a Lord Krishna idol at the Shahi Eidgah mosque on December 6 in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura, the district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144.
While the mosque is adjacent to the Krishna Janamasthan temple, 6th December marks the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.
“Section 144 is already in force in the district. Strict actions will be taken against those found indulging in rumor-mongering or trying to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the town. We have received information that some organizations are trying to hold an event or a foot march on December 6,” Mathura SSP Gaurav Grover was quoted as saying by Times of India.
Assuring Muslim leaders that the administration has put safeguards in place, Circle officer (city) Abhishek Tewari, interacting with them said that no one will be allowed to do any mischief, according to the newspaper.
Talking to PTI, District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal said, “Nobody will be allowed to disturb the peace and tranquillity in Mathura,”
Chahal said that the Hindutva outfit Hindu Mahasabha had requested permission to install the idol at the mosque on December 6 but it was turned down.
Earlier, Rajyashri Choudhary leader of Hindu Mahasabha had said her organization will install the idol of Lord Krishna in the Shahi Idgah after a “maha jalabhishek” to “purify” the place on 6 December, as per the news agency PTI.
Narayani Sena, another Hindutva group has announced it will take out a march from Vishram Ghat to Sri Krishna Janmasthan, demanding the “removal” of the mosque.
While the Mathura police said they have detained Narayani Sena secretary Amit Mishra in Kotwali, the Hindutva organization has claimed that its national president Manish Yadav has been detained in Lucknow.
A local court is hearing a bunch of petitions seeking ‘removal’ of the 17th-century mosque, while the threat to perform the ‘ritual’ at the mosque has come. However, police said no permission for any program has been issued and none will be granted.
Quami Ekta Manch members have urged chief minister Yogi Adityanath to provide additional security in Mathura on 6 December
Munch founder Madhavan Dutt Chaturvedi, said it has been 53 years since an agreement was signed between the management of the Shahi Eidgah and Sri Krishna Janmasthan Sansthan to maintain the status quo, he told TOI adding, “We can’t let that break.”
All India Teerth Purohit Mahasabha, a 60-year-old body of over 90 temple priests from across India had recently said that this issue is being raked up unnecessarily and that all concerned parties should be all the more careful as assembly elections are just around the corner in the state.