Muzaffarnagar. Hundreds of people from the Pal community staged a strong protest at the Collectorate premises on Wednesday against the alleged tampering with the temple and religious structures built by Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, damage to idols and religious symbols, police lathi-charge on devotees and members of the Pal community who reached the site to protest, and the cases registered against them. The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding justice in the matter. They said that in an issue linked to religious faith, action should be taken against the culprits, not against those who protested peacefully.
The protesters said that the reported tampering and alterations to the religious heritage associated with Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar at Manikarnika Ghat is a serious matter. They stated that temples, idols and religious symbols are an integral part of Sanatan faith and any form of vandalism or interference would not be tolerated. The community demanded that the temple and structures should be preserved in their original condition and all kinds of changes must be stopped immediately.
According to the protesters, when devotees and members of the Pal community reached the site to register their protest peacefully in accordance with their religious sentiments, the police resorted to a lathi-charge and several cases were registered against them. The community expressed anger over the action and said that instead of listening to the devotees, booking them in cases is unjustified. They said such actions have increased resentment and hurt public sentiments.
In the memorandum, the community demanded that the temple and structures at Manikarnika Ghat built by Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar should be protected and maintained in their existing condition; all forms of tampering, demolition or alterations to the temple, idols and religious symbols should be stopped immediately; a fair investigation should be conducted and strict action taken against those responsible for damaging the religious heritage; all cases registered against devotees and youths of the Pal community should be withdrawn immediately; and departmental as well as legal action should be taken against the officials responsible for ordering the lathi-charge.
Representatives of the community said that after the protest at the Collectorate, the memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister was submitted to Judicial SDM Krishnakant. Thereafter, a five-member delegation met District Magistrate Umesh Mishra at his residence and briefed him about the entire issue. According to the delegation, District Magistrate Umesh Mishra assured that the demands have been forwarded to the government and appropriate action would be taken as per law, wherever justified.
Those present during the protest included Shivkumar Pal, District President of Akhil Bharatiya Pal Mahasabha; Sunil Kumar Pal, Metropolitan President; Satyendra Pal, State Vice President of Samajwadi Party Shikshak Sabha; Pushpankar Pal, senior BSP leader and former district president; Jagdish Pal, Mandal President, Pal Bhaichara Committee and Azad Samaj Party; Mohan Prajapati, National President, Bharatiya Ati Pichhda Varg Morcha; Ramesh Pal, District President and State President of Samajik Nyay Manch; Harendra Pal of Rashtriya Lok Dal; senior Samajwadi Party leader Deepti Pal; Monu Pal, District General Secretary (RLD); Gulzari Lal; Sandeep Pal, District President of Samajwadi Lohia Vahini; SP leader Pawan Pal; Ankit Chandel; Gullu Pradhan (Shamli); Munna Pal (Bhainsi); Vijaypal; Sumit Pal; Deshpal (Siddharth Studio); Pankaj Pal, along with hundreds of others.
