Gurugram: The Nuh administration Friday wrote to the Haryana government seeking suspension of mobile internet services in the district, as the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) remained adamant on resuming its Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra.
On Tuesday evening, it had denied permission to the VHP yatra which is scheduled to be held 28 August. Earlier, at a ‘mahapanchayat’ in Palwal on 13 August, the participants had announced that the yatra would be organised at any cost on the fixed date.
“It is brought to your notice that there is a call from Sarva Jatiye Hindu Mahapanchayat for Braj Mandal Shobha Yatra on 28 August in the district. Keeping in view the agitation and the damage to public and private property, there is apprehension regarding the misuse of social media/ bulk messages for spreading rumours by bad social elements,” Nuh Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata wrote to the Haryana additional chief secretary (home), requesting the services be withheld from from the evening of 25 August to 29 August.
“Therefore, it is necessary to suspend internet and bulk SMS services in Nuh district to avoid any untoward situation,” he asserted.
The VHP had curtailed its yatra on 31 July after violence broke out in Nuh and spiralled out to reach nearby Gurugram and Faridabad. Six people were killed and over 80 others were injured in the violence.
Later, Khadgata told ThePrint that the suspension of mobile internet services was requested as “a precautionary measure and to stop spread of rumours via social media”.
Before the July yatra, messages were shared by self-styled vigilantes Bittu Bajrangi and Monu Manesar which were alleged to have led to a build-up ahead of the event. Video messages were issued from the Muslim side as well in response.
Bajrangi, now in judicial custody for carrying swords and weapons during the yatra and attacking police, had posted a provocative video addressing the Muslims. Manesar had released two videos, but did not turn up at the event.
VHP social media head Anurag Kulshrestha, meanwhile, said that the yatra will be held Monday.
“We don’t need permission from any authority for visiting our temples. Holding Braj Mandal Jal Abhishek Yatra is our religious matter, and we will do that on 28 August. The yatra is being organised on the call given by the Sarva Samaj Hindu Mahapanchayat that gave a call for this when it met at Pondri village of Palwal. The yatra will be held as per announcement and will go to Nalhad, Firozepur Jhirka and Punhana temples,” he told ThePrint.
(Edited by Tony Rai)