Protests by BJP over prayers on road

Meerut, July 12: Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and Hindu groups created a ruckus here over the offering of prayers on a public thoroughfare by the members of a particular community, police said today.

The protests yesterday have prompted district officials to deploy police forces in the sensitive areas of the city to prevent any untoward incidents. The protests erupted last night with BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad members holding a demonstration near the city's Shivchowk area.

Police had to resort to a mild lathicharge to control the situation. District Collector Randeep Rinwa today said that the situation is under control. "We will not spare anybody involved in spreading violence and rumours," he said.

Meanwhile, following discussions between district officials and the members of the two communities, it has been decided that public prayers will not be offered in the Shivchowk area during daytime.

Commenting on the issue, BJP MLA Rajendra Kumar Aggarwal said, "We are not protesting against people offering prayers on the road. We are protesting against the outsiders who come to offer prayers but later create disturbance in the area."

PTI