Uttar Pradesh: Tension in Maudaha after BJP MP refuses to take traditional route for Kans Festival

The obstinacy of Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh has pushed Maudaha city into a curfew-like situation. The Rapid Action Force, Provincial Armed Constabulary and police of three adjoining districts of Banda, Mahoba and Lalitpur organised a flag march across the city on Wednesday, September 26, evening.

Hell-bent on taking out the procession of tableaux of Kans Festival from one corner of the city to the other, Chandel on Tuesday, September 25 had refused to agree to the request of the police officers to stick to the traditional route. The people of Maudaha celebrate the elimination of Kans, a demon, by Krishna. Kans was the maternal uncle of the God and wanted to kill his nephew. Infant Krishna had killed Kans and saved the people from his wrath. Local people claim that this unique festival is organised in Maudaha only for the last 110 years.

“There is a fixed route for the procession. But Chandel and over 500 members of the BJP and Hindu Yuva Vahini refused to accept our request to follow the traditional route and tried to enter a Muslim dominated area. They attacked us when we tried to prevent them from passing through a mazar. A dozen people including six policemen sustained injuries. The MP was present there and deliberately vitiated the atmosphere. Presently, over 600 police personnel and paramilitary force are camping in Maudaha just because of the bullheadedness of a lawmaker,” said a police officer, requesting not to be identified.

Chandel claimed to reporters that the police lathi-charged people without any reason.

“The police mishandled the situation. The procession would have passed off peacefully”, the MP said.

Manoj Kumar Tiwari, DIG of Hamirpur in Bundelkhand region said, “Cases have been registered against over a dozen identified and 200 unidentified rioters for attacking the police and disturbing peace and social harmony. Half a dozen people have been arrested.”

A local Hindu Yuva Vahini man is among those arrested.