The members of the Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samity (HJSS) who walked out from the meeting called by the district administration on Thursday evening said that they would display weapons during the Hanuman Jayanti procession to be carried out on April14. The district administration had called them to the negotiation table for convincing them to refrain from weaponry display during the rally in the city.
“Display of weapons during the procession is not meant for breach of peace or communal violence in the town,” clarified HJSS advisor Pradeep Bahidar in a Press conference after the meeting with the district administration failed. He complained that the district administration, in the name of clamping section 144 was depriving the revelers of their constitutional right on freedom of religion. Expressing displeasure over the crackdown to be taken against weapon display by the district administration, he alleged, “This is nothing but pure Dadagiri and autocracy of the district Collector.” Since 1992, when a Samanway Samity was formed, there has been no record of communal violence or breach of peace during the Hanuman Jayanti procession in Sambalpur. “We give equal respect to other religions also. In such circumstances, why the present district administration is panicked of the procession,” asked another leader Satyanarayan Panda.
Samity president Col Pravat Panda described it as a conspiracy against the Hindu community. “We are ready to face any consequence for our religion,” the leaders of the Samity said, adding that if necessary they may seek intervention of court on the infringement of right of the Hindus by the administration. They further threatened to hold a stir if the administration restricts a motor cycle rally of the HJSS supporters and members on Bhutapara-Dhankauda route on April 11.