NEW DELHI, April 5: On the eve of Hanuman Jayanthi, the Centre has issued a
directory to the States and Union Territories on precautions to be taken to
avert any untoward incidents. This comes in the background of the violent incidents
during Ram Navami celebrations in Bengal and Bihar.
Hanuman Jayanthi is on Thursday, April 6.
In the advisory, the Home Ministry asks the State Governments to ensure the
maintenance of law and order and peaceful observance of the festival. They have
also been told to be cautious of any issues that could disturb communal harmony.
The States should ensure the maintenance of law and order and peaceful observance
of the festival, the Home Ministry advisory said.
Sporadic clashes still continue in Bihar Sharif in Nalanda district and Sasaram
in Rohtas district of Bihar and in Howrah and Hoogly in Bengal.
The MHA tweeted, "The MHA has issued an advisory to all states in preparation
for Hanuman Jayanti. The governments are encouraged to ensure the maintenance
of law and order, peaceful observance of the festival, and monitoring of any
factors that could disturb communal harmony in society."
The BJP, the ruling party at the Centre, has blamed the State Governments for
their laxity that led to the violence, the State Governments have alleged that
the BJP was behind the incidents, creating problems in non-BJP-ruled States.
In Delhi's Jahangirpuri, the police conducted a flag march in view of Hanuman
Jayanti celebrations. Clashes had erupted in this area last year.
