Uttar Pradesh police officer Anuj Kumar Chaudhary, the Sambhal Circle Officer, sparked widespread condemnation from opposition parties, who demanded action against him, after he stated, “If Muslims cannot accept being colored during Holi, they should stay at home,” calling his remarks “biased” and “inappropriate for an officer.”
His statement comes soon after a Peace Committee Meeting was held, as Holi and Jumua fall on the same day this year.
“There are 52 Jumua (Friday) in a year, but only one day for Holi. Hindus wait for Holi the whole year, just like Muslims wait for Eid,” CO Kumar said, undermining the significance of Jumua prayers to Muslims, especially during Ramadan.
“If people of the Muslim community feel that the colors of Holi will corrupt your religion, then do not step out of the house that day,” he repeated.
“And if they want to go out of their house, then they should be big-hearted enough not to object if colour falls on them. If you go to the market and someone puts colors on you, because sometimes they will not be conscious as they drink Bhang (Cannabis drink),” he was heard saying.
He justified his suggestions by emphasizing the need for communal harmony and strict vigilance to maintain law and order, and warned that any attempt to disturb communal harmony would be dealt with strictly.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sharvendra Bikram Singh condemned the remarks and said that the officer was only “imitating what they hear from the chief minister to stay in his good books.”
He called for strict action against the officer for “displaying his bias.”
“This is condemnable, and officers should not act as BJP agents,” he said.
Uttar Pradesh Congress Media Committee Vice Chairman Manish Hindvi said, “An officer, regardless of who they are, must be secular; only then can governance function properly in this country. Otherwise, it will lead to anarchy.”
“If people from a particular religion have expressed discomfort with playing with colours, the officer’s duty is to ensure that there is no atmosphere of fear or insecurity,” he asserted.
He further highlighted that, “There should be an arrangement where both Holi is celebrated and Namaz is offered peacefully. Saying that Holi comes once a year while Friday prayers happen 52 times and that those who dislike colours should stay indoors is a political statement.”
“Those who engage in vote-bank politics make such remarks. As an officer, one cannot make such statements; otherwise, tomorrow they might say they will only ensure the security of Hindus and not Muslims. The statement made by this police officer is highly condemnable. I believe action should be taken against him as per the officers’ code of conduct,” Manish Hindvi added.
