Uttar Pradesh blocks two Urs events citing law & order concerns | India News
AYODHYA: Local authorities in Ayodhya and Barabanki of BJP-governed UP have refused to allow two annual Urs ceremonies, citing concerns over potential breach of peace and law-and-order problems.The ceremonies have been held for years and the permission for the one in Ayodhya was denied following a complaint from VHP activists.The Ayodhya gathering has been organised at the shrine of Dada Miya in Khanpur Masodha area. The other relates to the Urs of Syed Shakeel Baba and has been held in Phoolpur area of Barabanki for the past 75 years.The VHP complaint claimed the Ayodhya gathering was being organised in the name of “Ghazi Baba” (a reference to Syed Salar Masood of Bahraich) instead of Dada Miya Urs. Salar Masood is believed to be the nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni and served as his military commander. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath recently declared that no event celebrating foreign aggressors should be allowed in the state. The permission granted under the name of “Urs Dada Miya” has been revoked as it was found that it was being organised under the name of Ghazi Baba, said Ayodhya circle officer Ashutosh Tiwari.For the Barabanki event, clearance was denied due to concerns of potential unrest. “Some disputes have emerged that may lead to communal tension and unrest. In view of this, the administration has refused to grant permission for the Urs,” Barabanki additional SP Vikas Tripathi said. Before this, the state had denied permission for Sambhal’s Neja Mela, also held in the memory of Salar Masood. In Gorakhpur, the iconic Bale Miyan fair held in memory of Salar Masood-locally called Bale Miyan- was scheduled to begin on May 18 but the district administration did not grant security clearance, effectively stalling the event.
