UP government cracks down on anti-Christmas outfit

Mangalore Today News Network

Uttar Praesh, Dec 23, 2017 : The government of Uttar Pradesh, states it has decided to crack down on a Hindu radical group that has threatened to disrupt Christmas programs in schools.

 

 

The district administration of Agra on December 21 asked the Hindu Jagrant Manch (Hindu vigilant group) to fill guarantee bonds of 1 million rupees and submit a declaration that its activists will not indulge in any disruptive activities targeting schools.

The Hindu group had threatened schools in Aligarh not to celebrate Christmas, or do so at their own risk. The reason cited was that the schools have Hindu students and celebrating Christmas would induce them to Christianity.

Additional director general (law and order) Anand Kumar told the Times of India: “Besides the notices, we have directed all district police chiefs of the state to ensure that the freedom of practicing one’s religion, as enshrined in the Constitution, is protected at all costs and appropriate action is taken if any one tries to violate it.”

The HJM activists had warned schools in Aligarh to not celebrate Christmas as they also have Hindu students. They had said “celebrating Christmas is a step towards forced conversions.”

Aligarh senior superintendent of police Rajesh Pandey said that they have issued notices to the HJM activists under CrPC’s preventive sections 107/116 (apprehension of breach of peace and tranquility of an area) and asking them to fill bonds undertaking that they would not indulge in any activity that disrupts peace.

On December 20, federal Home Minister telephoned Uttar Pradesh chief minister in the presence of a Catholic delegation asking him to deal sternly with those trying to disrupt Christmas programs. The minister assured the delegation led by Cardinal Baselios Cleemis that the government would ensure Christians is observed in peace and harmony.