Controversy in Haridwar over invite to Muslim MLAs at Har-ki-Pauri ghat
Haridwar after the district administration invited three Muslim MLAs to an event at Har-ki-Pauri ghat for the state foundation day. The move was reportedly opposed by the Ganga Sabha, which manages the ghat, says a TOI report.
It argued that the three legislators should not have been invited as «non-Hindus are not allowed entry at the ghat since long, and the British had also made it a rule under the Haridwar Municipal Act of 1935.»
The event, held on Monday in the presence of CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and a host of other BJP leaders, featured cultural performances and a light show, with over 3.5 lakh diyas lit across 52 ghats. As part of protocol, the Haridwar district administration had invited Congress MLA from Piran Kaliyar Furqan Ahmed, BSP MLA from Laksar Mohammad Shahzad, and Congress MLA from Manglaur Qazi Nizamuddin. However, none of the MLAs attended.
A Ganga Sabha member told TOI, «Some issues were raised but it was confirmed that none of the MLAs were coming.» He denied commenting further on the matter saying, «Everything went well.»
State coordinator of Bajrang Dal, Anuj Walia, meanwhile said, «We strongly opposed inviting the MLAs for the light show at the ghat. Har-ki-Pauri is a holy place for Hindus, and entry of Muslims is not allowed there. The administration accepted the mistake and told us that the MLAs will not come. They also assured that this type of mistake will not happen again.»
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