Belur rathotsava: Bajrang Dal activists oppose recitation of excerpts from Quran

Mahipal, a Bajrang Dal leader, who led the protest, maintained that Muslims had no role in the annual chariot festival of the historic Channakeshava temple, and that there is no need to continue with the practice

Hassan

Bajrang Dal activists staged a march in Belur on March 28 opposing recitation of excerpts from the Quran (Koran) during the annual chariot festival (rathotsava) at the historic Channakeshava temple scheduled on April 3.

The activists urged the Karnataka government to stop the practice, which is part of the temple manual, which dates back to 1932. 

Mahipal, a Bajrang Dal leader, who led the protest, maintained that Muslims had no role in the chariot festival, and that there is no need to continue with the practice. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the taluk administration.

The area became tense for some time when a person raised slogans against the Bajrang Dal activists. The protesters were enraged when Sakib Pasha shouted slogans against them. The police, who were on the spot, intervened and took Sakib Pasha away from the scene.

Hassan Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said the police took the person who tried to disrupt the protest. “There was no untoward incident due to the timely intervention of the police,” he said.

No idea when recitation of excerpts from Quran began