A Muslim group, Anjuman-e Haidari (AeH), the management body of renowned Dargah Shahe Marda, Jor Bagh, New Delhi organised a press conference on August 11, 2018 alleging that the anti-social element of land mafia with the connivance of RSS, BJP is unlawfully restraining them from celebrating Independence Day by hosting the National flag since last few years.
Addressing the media persons, Bahadur Abbas Naqvi, general secretary of AeH alleged that the SHO Lodhi Road police station has threatened the office bearers of the organisation of dire consequences if Muslims celebrate Independence Day at dargah premises. Naqvi disclosed that while Zahur-ul Hasan, the manager of dargah Shahe Marda visited SHO Lodhi Road on August 10 with a copy of permission issued by NDMC to celebrate the national festival in Dargah premises, the SHO said that he has strict instructions from seniors not to allow Anjuman-e Haidari or such other Muslims to organise patriotic programs like Independence day or Republic day and specific instructions to stop AeH from organising this year’s Independence Day celebrations.
Naqvi further said that the SHO under pressure from the land mafia supported by RSS, BJP is levelling an unfounded allegation that some anti-social elements may also join the participants and create disturbance, hence the permission is not being granted. Refuting SHO’s allegation, Naqvi said that for the past 70 years, Independence Day is being celebrated at Dargah premises and no untoward incident has ever taken place. Last year too, such impediments were being placed by the miscreants with the active support of local police but with the interference of National Commission for Minorities, the police were directed to grant the permission for the celebration which concluded peacefully.
Lastly, Naqvi pointed out the irony is that on one side the BJP led government directs Muslim bodies/Madrasas etc. to celebrate Independence Day and submit photographs proving celebrations but on the other hand our Muslim organization being directed by the police not to celebrate Independence Day for no rhyme and reason.
LawStreet Journal tried to get the comments of the local police but the SHO was not available for comments. However, in a major ruling on the eve of the 55th Republic Day, the Supreme Court had declared that hoisting the Tiranga is a fundamental right that the government cannot legislate away. The Bench stated that under Article 19(1) A of the Constitution, citizens had the fundamental Right to fly the National flag on their premises around the year, provided the premises do not undermine the dignity of the tricolor.
