Delhi Police's Prohibitory Orders Criticised by AAP for Targeting Hindu Festivals Ahead of Navratri

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised Delhi Police's recent prohibitory orders, calling them a "Tughlaqi farmaan." He demanded their withdrawal, arguing they were intended to ban Hindu festivals and offend religious sentiments before Navratri. The police issued these orders on Monday, restricting gatherings of five or more people in central and border areas for six days due to law and order concerns.

The prohibitory order was enacted under section 163, previously section 144 of the CrPC, as part of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita. Bharadwaj accused Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena of failing to manage the city's law and order effectively. He described the order as "laughable and irresponsible," claiming it aimed to disrupt Hindu festivals and harass Delhi residents.

Concerns Over Religious Sentiments

Bharadwaj stated that the police were intentionally targeting Hindus' religious sentiments by imposing restrictions similar to a curfew just before Navratri. He questioned whether Delhi Police would arrest innocent devotees since gatherings of five or more are prohibited. "Do Hindus not have the right to celebrate their festivals under the BJP's administration?" he asked.

The AAP leader questioned the rationale behind the prohibitory order, which cited MCD and DUSU polls, VIP movements, and elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana as reasons. He argued that these reasons were insufficient to justify banning festivals in Delhi when elections were occurring elsewhere.

Law and Order Concerns

Bharadwaj also raised concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi. He claimed that several gangsters were extorting money from traders and businessmen in the national capital. He mentioned an extortion message received by a BJP leader in Uttam Nagar as evidence that even BJP leaders were not safe.

AAP national convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed his worries about the worsening law and order situation in a post on X. His statement highlighted growing concerns over safety in the capital city.

Bharadwaj's remarks reflect broader concerns about maintaining public safety while respecting religious freedoms. The debate continues over balancing security measures with citizens' rights to celebrate cultural events without undue restrictions.