GNEM claims that the self-styled Bharat Mata Vahini members had been showing up at namaz locations, intimidating imams and using provocative language in a planned attempt to disrupt prayers and provoke violence. GNEM claimed that prayers were being offered at these sites for several years but this group began causing disruptions from March this year.“In March, the group was successful in getting prayers shut at sites in Sectors 39, 40 and 41. An FIR was registered against one of their leaders earlier. Yet, they are undeterred. Action needs to be taken against them,” a GEM founder was quoted as saying. For the past month and a half videos have been surfacing every Friday showing the vigilante group, which include women, aggressively shouting slogans and demanding action against people praying. “We do everything in a temple, why do they (Muslims) come here, why cannot they go to the nearby mosque, they harass our sisters and daughters, we are afraid…,” some of them could be heard telling the cops.The namaz site at Sector 47 is among a list of 37 designated sites for namaz agreed upon by all parties in May 2018, concede the police. Protesters claim the arrangement was a one-time concession. That they are fishing for trouble became obvious when in a written complaint to the police one of the protestors claimed, “I have a suspicion that these people (Muslims offering prayers) are Rohingyas or from Bangladesh. Their IDs should be checked…”.
Source link
