Haridwar: The inflammatory speeches made at the Haridwar ‘Dharma Sansad’ against the Muslim community in December last year seem to have overshadowed the issues of development and drug menace among local seers ahead of the Uttarakhand assembly polls next week.
When ThePrint visited the Haridwar assembly constituency — one of 11 under the Haridwar Lok Sabha seat — several seers claimed their interests were being ignored on account of “Muslim appeasement”.
They said they cared about issues such as development, but made it clear that religion was a bigger priority.
“We want development in our constituency and that is a major issue for us as far as elections are concerned. Lekin development toh tab kaam aayegi jab hum zinda honge (we will be able to enjoy development only if we are alive),” said Adhir Kaushik, a seer. “The way jihadi elements are increasing in the country is a matter of concern. This appeasement politics needs to stop.”
He added: “Youth and families are affected the most due to the drug problem in the area. Dharma nagri main aisa haal hai (such is the situation in the holy city). Look at Uttar Pradesh, how Yogi (Adityanath) ji is taking bold decisions. But here we are going on constructing new madrasas, mazars… In which direction are you working?”
While there is some resentment against the state BJP government among seers, their sentiments play into the narrative being pursued by the party in the state. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual rally this week, for example, he targeted the Opposition Congress on the charge of “appeasement”.
“Now the Congress party is trying to poison Uttarakhand with the politics of appeasement. Congress party leaders’ attempt to play the politics of appeasement in the name of university is enough to open the eyes of the people of Uttarakhand,” he said.
The BJP’s allegations of appeasement have taken on a new life in light of Uttarakhand Congress vice-president Akil Ahmad’s claim that party leader Harish Rawat “promised” him a Muslim university in the state.
While the Congress and Rawat have denied these claims, the BJP has alleged that the Congress is attempting to “polarise Muslim voters” in certain assembly segments. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has accused the party of playing divisive politics.
In its election manifesto, too, the BJP has announced several promises including stricter laws against ‘love jihad’, expansion of the Char Dham project by linking all pilgrimage sites, transforming Haridwar as international yoga capital, and a fund of Rs 1 crore earmarked for Vedic schools.
According to a senior BJP functionary, the Haridwar constituency has around 8,000-10,000 seers and approximately 1.4 lakh voters. “These seers might not be a big number in terms of voters but they help influence other voters,” said the leader who didn’t wish to be named.
In this constituency, state BJP chief Madan Kaushik is up against Satpal Brahmachari from the Congress and Sanjay Saini of the Aam Aadmi Party.
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Dharma Sansad shown in ‘negative light’
The comments come weeks after a controversial religious congregation or ‘Dharma Sansad’ of Hindu seers was organised by Yati Narsinghanand’s Dasna Devi Temple, in Haridwar.
During the congregation in December 2021, multiple hate speeches were made by participating seers, which included calls to arms to protect the “dharma” and statements calling for Muslims to be killed “if needed”.
A special investigation team is probing the case. Narsinghanand was arrested but is currently out on bail.
“Whatever happened at Dharma Sansad, government agencies took stock of the situation and took action. There is no one’s interference. Law will take its own course. Inquiry is on and the seers should give their version forcefully,” said Uttarakhand BJP spokesperson Ravinder Jugran.
Swami Parmanand, a resident of Haridwar city, claimed that the media, especially social media, painted a negative picture of the seers during the Dharma Sansad.
“They showed us in a negative light through their cut-copy-paste techniques. A few words may have been spoken in a rage but the intention was not that. We are not with any party but we support those who work for strengthening the Hindu tradition and culture,” he added.
“No community was targeted during the Dharma Sansad. If, as per the Constitution, we actually take action against that community, then so many of them will remain behind bars. Those who chant slogans of ‘Bharat Tere Tukde Honge’, nothing happens to them, but we are being criticised,” said Baba Hathyogi, a local seer.
Drugs and development
The appeasement narrative overlooks some of the other issues that Haridwar’s residents appear concerned about, including drugs and development.
“For Haridwar, the most important election issue is the drug menace. The common public is really affected by this,” said Vikas Pradhan, member of a campaign called “Smack-Mukt Haridwar”.
“Smack is being sold in the streets and youngsters are consuming it. We want the public representative to focus on this issue. Seven months ago, we launched a campaign (this included members from all parties, including the BJP, Congress) against smack in Haridwar,” he added.
Smack has become a major menace in Haridwar district, with police reportedly carrying out several seizures in the past few months.
Some residents said the drug menace is a major issue for them but not for the political parties.
“Nasha sabse badi problem hai, but kisi party ke liye ye important nahi hai (drug abuse is the biggest problem, but it is not important for any party). No party wants to talk about these issues as they can get votes on the Hindu-Muslim issue,” said J.P. Bhadoni, a resident.
Jugran, however, said the “government was very sincere about this issue and has taken proactive measures in the past”.
“Haridwar is important not only for India but for the entire world as people from across the world come here. We need to strengthen our special drives to end this menace. Haridwar is a tirath nagri, where there is a math, mandir every 50-100 metres,” he added. “So, apart from the government, the civil society also needs to come together and fight together.”
Development is another issue that strikes deep resonance among residents, who complain about potholes, and allege poor upkeep of the city, as well as contamination of Ganga by untreated sewage.
Said Bhadoni: “Corruption is a major issue in the city. We have been raising issues of bad roads, polluted Ganga, but they seem to fall on deaf ears. The public also gets tired of raising these issues as nothing much happens.”
Fellow Haridwar resident Sushant Pal added: “Drug menace and unemployment are the major issues that require immediate attention of the government.”
But seer Adhir Kaushik claimed “when we vote, we are guided by issues of religion and nationalism”. “Development of Haridwar is also crucial, but without compromising its holy character,” he added.
A senior BJP functionary said the party was confident about the seer community’s support. “The sant samaj has always supported us and we are confident we will get their blessings. Issues of appeasement, nationalism are much more important in today’s scenario. We need to focus on them first and we are highlighting them,” the functionary added.
(Edited by Amit Upadhyaya)
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