As Kanwar Yatra entered Haridwar on Friday, the facades of two mosques and a mazar along the route of the yatra were covered with large sheets of white cloth to 'prevent trouble' but were removed by the evening following objections from various quarters.
A video making rounds on social media has shown that the sheets were hung on bamboo scaffoldings in front of two mosques and a mazar, all in the Jwalapur area.
What did the police say?
According to Danish Ali, appointed as a special police officer (SPO) by the administration for the yatra's management, "We received orders from the railway police post to remove the curtains. That is why we have come to remove these."
Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj told reporters that it was done to maintain peace. "Any such thing is done only to prevent trouble. It is not such a big thing. We also cover buildings when they are under construction."
However, commenting on the matter, the mosque's maulana and the mazar's caretakers said they were not aware of any administrative order in this regard and claimed this was for the first time that such a step had been taken during the yatra.
Congress criticises covering of mosques
Congress leader and former minister Naeem Qureshi said he has never seen such a thing in his life.
"We Muslims always welcome Shiv bhakts (devotees) for the kanwar fair and arrange refreshments for them at various places. This has been an example of harmony between Hindus and Muslims in Haridwar, and there has never been a tradition of curtains," he said.
Congress leader and former district panchayat president Rao Afaque Ali said the administration's decision to cover mosques and mazars is surprising.
"It has never happened earlier. Some kanwariyas also go to mosques to pay obeisance. India is a country where everyone takes care of every religion and caste. Today mosques are being covered, what will happen if temples are covered in this manner tomorrow?" he asked.
Uttarakhand Congress vice president Suryakant Dhasmana claimed that this was a "contempt of the Supreme Court".
"The order to put curtains on mosques and mazars on the kanwar yatra route in Haridwar district, whoever has issued it, goes against the Supreme Court which has put a stay on an order which asked hotel and restaurant owners and fruit vendors on the route to display their names, caste and religious identity," Dhasmana said.
