By Pervez Bari
BHOPAL—Muslims in Bhopal heaved a sigh of relief after Hanuman Jayanti celebrations marked by processions passed off peacefully on Saturday. In the backdrop of recent violence in Khargone on the occasion of Ram Navami rally Muslims were on tenterhooks here.
Several “Shoba Yatras” (religious processions) were taken out in whole of Bhopal dotted with saffron flags but the main focus was on the grand procession with DJ which was taken out in the walled city with Muslim population amid heavy police force. About 70 per cent of shops on the route of the rally were forced to close down by the police administration. Only tea shops and eateries were allowed to remain open.
About 5,000 devotees who arrived from all corners of the state capital chanted “Jai Jai Shri Ram” in the procession. They carried saffron flags in their hands. Former protem Speaker and BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma and former mayor Alok Sharma led the procession.
MLA Rameshswar Sharma offered “Aarti” before the procession started. The DJ played but was stopped soon. However, later, it was played during the procession.
Muslims clerics led by Shahar Quazi Qazi Syed Mushtaq Ali had met Home Minister Narottam Mishra and handed over a memorandum stating that areas were narrow and sensitive, due to which there was an atmosphere of fear and uneasiness in Muslims as the holy month of Ramazan was on. They had also met Director General of Police Sudhir Saxena with an appeal not to permit procession through walled cities whose roads often remain congested.
However, the administration permitted the procession with riders. Objectionable slogans, banners and posters, which might have hurt people of other religion or sect, were not allowed. The administration had demanded a list of songs, which were to be played on Hanuman Jayanti.
Cong turns saffron
Meanwhile, Congress in Madhya Pradesh turned saffron on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. Saffron was everywhere to be seen on the official Twitter handles of state Congress president Kamal Nath and other party leaders.
The religious works done by Kamal Nath government was mentioned on the Twitter handle. The party’s inclination towards soft Hindutva has been visible for quite some time. The State Congress Committee had issued instructions to District Congress Committees to celebrate Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti. The party asked workers to post Hanuman Jayanti programmes on WhatsApp so that the events of District Congress Committees could be reviewed.
On Saturday, Kamal Nath was in Chhindwara and visited 6 temples. Nath is known to be a devotee of Lord Hanuman. Main function was organised in Simariya temple that has 101-feet high idol of Hanuman. A grand light and sound show was also organised in voice of popular film star Amitabh Bachhan.
Drone Watch
Meanwhile, Bhopal metropolis police had made elaborate safety arrangements for the Hanuman Jayanti procession. DCP (Zone-3) Riyaz Iqbal stated that police performed drone monitoring of the procession route — Talaiya, Budhwara, Mangalwara, Nadra bus stand, Sindhi Colony Square and another locations. Around 600 policemen were deployed alongside the route. Police employed 10 extra photographers to document the procession. Drone cameras assisted monitor its progress.
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