Provocative posters and speeches in Bawana have raised fears of a communal flare-up
New Delhi:
Provocative posters and speeches have raised fears of a communal flare-up in Bawana in north Delhi, where a "Mahapanchayat" or meeting on Sunday urged people to oppose a procession for Muharram on Tuesday.
Around 800 policemen are keeping vigil at Bawana, nearly two weeks after clashes in another part of Delhi, at Trilokpuri, which is still tense.
BJP legislator Gugan Singh Ranga and Congress councilor Devender Kumar both attended Sunday's Mahapanchayat, where speeches called for a change in the route of a "Taziya" procession to be taken out as part of Muharram, which marks the death of Prophet Mohammad's grandson in the battle of Karbala.
Mr Ranga has been accused by Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party of making an incendiary speech. "Whatever you want and decide, I will support you," Mr Ranga told the gathering.
Mr Kejriwal tweeted today, "I have information that in villages, people are rejecting the politics of hate and throwing out hate-mongers. I am proud of them."
Religious tension has been simmering in Bawana for the past few weeks, say residents.
The Hindu and Muslim residents of the colony are separated by a small canal.
There have been objections to the Muharram procession's route that cuts through a village area where mostly Hindu families stay. The families say the procession blocks the main road that connects to other parts of the city and therefore, affects their business.
Rais, who stays in a slum colony dominated by Muslim residents, told NDTV, ""The same route has been followed for 10 years, but they never complained before. But now since they have, we have decided to limit our procession to the JJ colony...we want to maintain harmony in the area."
Pradeep Mathur, one of the organisers of the meeting, said, "We need a written assurance from the police that they (the procession) will not enter our area."
A senior police officer told NDTV "law and order will be maintained" and his personnel would do their best to prevent any violence.
Nearly two weeks ago, 14 people were arrested in Trilokpuri in east Delhi after rioting during the Diwali festival.
Around 800 policemen are keeping vigil at Bawana, nearly two weeks after clashes in another part of Delhi, at Trilokpuri, which is still tense.
BJP legislator Gugan Singh Ranga and Congress councilor Devender Kumar both attended Sunday's Mahapanchayat, where speeches called for a change in the route of a "Taziya" procession to be taken out as part of Muharram, which marks the death of Prophet Mohammad's grandson in the battle of Karbala.
Mr Ranga has been accused by Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party of making an incendiary speech. "Whatever you want and decide, I will support you," Mr Ranga told the gathering.
Mr Kejriwal tweeted today, "I have information that in villages, people are rejecting the politics of hate and throwing out hate-mongers. I am proud of them."
Religious tension has been simmering in Bawana for the past few weeks, say residents.
The Hindu and Muslim residents of the colony are separated by a small canal.
There have been objections to the Muharram procession's route that cuts through a village area where mostly Hindu families stay. The families say the procession blocks the main road that connects to other parts of the city and therefore, affects their business.
Rais, who stays in a slum colony dominated by Muslim residents, told NDTV, ""The same route has been followed for 10 years, but they never complained before. But now since they have, we have decided to limit our procession to the JJ colony...we want to maintain harmony in the area."
Pradeep Mathur, one of the organisers of the meeting, said, "We need a written assurance from the police that they (the procession) will not enter our area."
A senior police officer told NDTV "law and order will be maintained" and his personnel would do their best to prevent any violence.
Nearly two weeks ago, 14 people were arrested in Trilokpuri in east Delhi after rioting during the Diwali festival.
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