Hindu organisations in Bahraich and Bhadohi districts of Uttar Pradesh have submitted applications to the respective district administrations, requesting them to deny permission for the Neja (Javelin) Mela in their areas.
Earlier the Sambhal police denied permission for the Mela after “public objections” over its association with Syed Salar Masood Ghazi, the nephew of Turkish ruler Mahmud Ghazni.
The organisers of the Neja Mela in Moradabad, a neighbouring district of Sambhal, have reportedly informed the district administration that they would not be holding the event this year.
Hindu organisations in Bahraich and Bhadohi have claimed public anger has grown over this issue, and also alleged that some “illegal activities” take place during the Mela.
“The Hindus of the surrounding villages and districts are deeply angered, finding it intolerable that the Mazar of Salar Masood,a brutal killer of thousands of Hindus and a ruthless invader who earned the title of Ghazi by dishonoring women continues to exist,” reads the application.
Additionally,they alleged that “incidents of conversion and so-called “love jihad” reportedly occur during the annual fair held in his name.”
“Therefore, we respectfully request that the fair, which glorifies this historical figure, be permanently discontinued,” they added.
Hindu Jagran Manch’s Bhadohi district convener, Rameshwar Singh, has requested Chief Minister and also the district administration to permanently discontinue the Mela held in the Marydpatti area of the district, according to the Indian Express report.
Rameshwar Singh claimed that Syed Salar Masood Ghazi has no historical connection to Bhadohi, yet the fair continues to be organized in his name.
He handed over the letter addressed to the CM to ADM Kunwar Virendra Maurya.
Additional District Magistrate, Bhadohi, Kunwar Virendra Maurya said they submitted a memorandum to the state government to discontinue the Mela.
Ajeet Pratap Singh, VHP’s Bahraich district convenor, has also submitted a memorandum to the district administration and police, demanding that the Mela be discontinued, citing the example of Sambhal, which has already banned it.
“The Mela held at this site has now become a centre for activities such as land encroachment, religious conversions and other issues that require urgent attention. In light of these concerns, I urge the administration to prohibit the Mela and Urs at the dargah in Bahraich,” said Singh, adding that he had sent a memorandum to officials in the state government in Lucknow.
Earlier on Monday, the Sambhal police denied permission for the annual Neja Mela this year citing “public objections” to organizing an event in the memory of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi.
Police also warned the committee members of the Mela that action would be taken if any attempt was made to set up a memorial, terming it an “evil practice and not a tradition.”
Consequently, the organisers of the Neja Mela, which was held annually in Thawala village under Bilari tehsil of Moradabad, have reportedly informed the district administration that they will not be organising the event this year.
ASP Sambhal Shrish Chandra said, “Neja fair has been organized in Sambhal for a long time. It was factually found that this fair is celebrated in the memory of Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud who was a robber, murderer, and the destroyer of many temples, including Somnath Temple. Permission has been denied for organising the mela…Forces have been deployed and instructions have been given to stop such illegal acts.”
Sambhal Police has also reportedly cemented a pit dug for placing a flagpole for the ‘Neja Mela’ .
Neja (javelin) Mela is traditionally held in a few places in Sambhal, a week after Holi.
The mela usually begins with the installation of the 30-feet pole with a green flag on its top in the mela ground on the first Tuesday after Holi.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “BJP is destroying every mixed culture, every brotherhood. People of every religion and caste meet at the Neja Mela. If they can praise Kumbh, then why can’t they praise any other fair? The way we used to live together, people of all religions used to live together, BJP is not like that.”
During a public event in Bahraich, Yogi Adityanath said,”Glorifying any invader means strengthening the foundation of treason. Independent India cannot accept any traitor who insults the great men of India, glorifies those invaders who trampled the eternal culture of India, attacks our faith, today’s new India cannot accept him at all.”
Cabinet Minister Sanjay Nishad said, “We should teach in books about who was cruel and to what extent. Celebrating cruelty and organizing fairs—what kind of logic is this? People should learn ideals from fairs.”
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