Members of the Bajrang Dal staged protests outside a prominent church in Bareilly's cantonment area on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day. The demonstrators recited the Hanuman Chalisa and raised slogans including 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Vande Mataram' in objection to cultural programmes organised by the church.
Allegations of Defamatory Content in Skits
According to functionaries of the Bajrang Dal, the trigger for the protest was a Christmas event held at St Alphonsus Cathedral Church in the cantonment area on December 23. They alleged that audio-visual skits presented during the cultural performances linked serious crimes like rape and forced conversions to Hindu temples and Hindu society at large. The protesters claimed these depictions presented Hindu traditions in a deliberately negative and biased light.
One protester argued that crimes against women are a societal issue that spans all religions and communities. Singling out one faith was deemed unacceptable by the group. They further highlighted that a significant majority—over 90%—of the students and parents participating in the event were from Hindu families, making the alleged content more hurtful.
Police Assurance and Escalating Protests
The initial sit-in protest on Wednesday concluded after the group submitted a memorandum to Bareilly DSP Ashutosh Shivam. The officer assured them of strict action regarding their complaint. However, by late Wednesday, no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered by the police.
This perceived inaction led the Bajrang Dal members to escalate their demonstration. On Thursday, they conducted another sit-in, this time outside the Kotwali police station. Their demand shifted to seeking the suspension of the police official they held responsible for the delay in filing the FIR.
Official Response and Demands of Protesters
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anurag Arya confirmed that the case is under investigation. The protesters, stating that the cultural performances had hurt religious sentiments, put forth two primary demands. They sought a public apology from the event organisers and called for a formal ban on similar themes in any future events.
The situation underscores the sensitive nature of interfaith portrayals during religious festivities. The police probe will likely examine the content of the skits and the specific allegations made by the Bajrang Dal members.
