Mumtaz Alam | India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 29— People like temple priest Mahadev Das are the backbone of the secular and plural India. His big heart and broad thinking have impressed the young peace activists who are on a nationwide cycle tour to spread message against mob lynching and violence.
The cycle rally for lynching-free and violence-free India was flagged off from the Rajghat, the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi on October 18. After offering prayers at the mazar of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad near Jama Masjid, the rally proceeded on the national tour.
On the 10th day of the rally, the activists were in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh. They were offered night stay at the premises of Ma Kali Mandir. The activists included youths from different faiths including Hindu, Sikh and Muslim. Muslim participants wanted to offer Isha (night) Namaz. They met the chief priest of the temple to seek his permission. He readily granted permission.
Leader of the cycle rally and convenor of Khudai Khidmatgar Faisal Khan said: “I sought permission for namaz from priest Mahadev Das ji. He said ‘this place is for worship and prayer only, you do not need any permission.’ I offer my salam to such priests and the country.”
At the launch of the cycle yatra, Khudai Khidmatgar had said: “We are aware of the heights of violence and series of lynching happening across the country, it is a serious challenge in front of us. Khudai Khidmatgar with the support of solidarity organizations took three different initiatives to handle the issue, like legal initiatives, providing emergency aid to the victims family, creating awareness through several events to stop these incidents. We also moved a petition in the Supreme Court in this regard, anyhow the condition is becoming worse day by day. We also believe that we all should involve in this issue taking as priority, must have to fight against this incident, else it would be proved as serious disease in the society, a large mass in this society accepting this style of violence and even the Government is playing moderate role in seriously handling this issue.”
In the last few years, more than 60 people have been lynched over suspicions for cow slaughter, beef consumption, cattle theft or child lifting in different parts of the country.
