Alarmed over what had happened in the wake of the June 1 landhaura violence, some leaders of the Hindu religious outfits of the district have said they are considering to convene a ‘Dharam Sansad’ (religious convention).
Many of them hinted that it might be held on July 6, the day the festival of Eid would be celebrated. They said the passive role of the Government and the local administration when the vandalism was going on had anguished them.
They said the police had remained almost mute spectators when the goons unleashed violence, holding sticks and stones aside from sharp-edged weapons in their hands. They in unison condemned such a role on the part of the law-enforcers, saying that the people are being driven to point of defending themselves in the face of such violence.
They cited the fact of hundreds of youths gathering in no time carrying sharp-edged weapons, sticks and stones on June 1 in landhaura following alleged desecration of a holy book of a community.
At a meeting held at Sidhbali Hanuman temple in Nand Vihar of Roorkee, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Yatindranand Giri said, “The society must arrange for its own security without leaving things to the police and the Government. This is what we have learnt from the June 1 incident.”
People representing Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Rajput Sabha, Hindu Shakti Dal and Kanwar Sewa Samiti had attended the meeting.
Mahant Narsinhanand Saraswati said, “Just in a few minutes, thousands had gathered, armed with weapons, something which is a serious matter. When the Government is found wanting there is no other option left for us but to convene a Dharma Sansad to chalk out our strategy.”