`Speaking during a session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly on Monday, the state’s Home Minister, Anil Vij, strongly condemned the incident in Nuh, terming it a “highly unfortunate” event. “Our government is a democratic and secular government, and people of all religions have the right to engage in religious activities according to their beliefs,” he further stated.
While addressing the Assembly, the Home Minister stated that a total of 500 people have been arrested so far in connection with the Nuh incident and that their roles during the riots are under scrutiny. He then suggested that “all of this” has been orchestrated by the Congress party. While criticising the Congress, Vij stated that the party was responsible for the violence that broke out in late July, but they did not want to hear the truth. He also underlined the fact that Congress legislator Mamman Khan had been issued a notice in the investigation into this matter, which clearly meant that this was the doing of the Congress.
Earlier on Monday, leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), including President Alok Kumar performed a “Jal Abhishek” in the district’s Nalhar Mahadev temple amid tight security. Haryana was put on high alert with heavy security arrangements in place fearing fresh incidents in Nuh after the Sarv Jatiya Hindu Mahapanchayat called for a “Shobha Yatra” on Monday, despite the government denying permission for the procession. Even so the VHP on Sunday said that the Braj Mandal Shoba Yatra would be “peacefully organised”. VHP president Kumar said, “No issues related to law and order would arise”. In view of the same, the district administration imposed Section 144, closing schools and banks, and urged locals in Nuh to avoid movement; roads were barricaded with restricted access and outsiders were banned entry to the district. The government also suspended mobile internet services from 26 to 28 August.
