Phagwara tense after alleged anti-Balmiki comments

Phagwara, Aug 20 (UNI) Communal tension prevailed in this town after some activists of the Balmiki community gathered outside a local temple to protest against alleged ''objectionable'' comments against Maharishi Balmiki by a speaker at a religious congregation here late last night.

The situation could be controlled only after the intervention by Phagwara DSP HPS Khakh who assured the slogan shouting activists of Balmiki community who had gathered before Shri Hanuman Garhi temple, that stern action would be taken against anyone found guilty of showing disrespect to the saint-poet famed for penning the great hindu epic ''Ramayana''.

Balmiki Sabha Central Committee president Satish Salhotra, while addressing the protestors, declared that the community will not tolerate disrespect to their sacred saint Maharshi Balimiki.

The organisers of the ''katha'' (religious story-telling) stopped the event mid-way to avoid confrontation.

UNI