In Uttar Pradesh, ahead of the Holi festival, Dinesh Sharma, also known as Falahari Maharaj, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding a ban on Muslim shopkeepers from selling colours and gulal during the festival.
Dinesh Sharma, who is a main petitioner in the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Idgah mosque dispute in Mathura, claimed in his letter that “anti-Hindu elements” could try to disturb the sanctity of Holi. He alleged that colours sold by Muslim traders might be mixed with glass pieces or other impure substances. He urged the government to restrict Muslim vendors from setting up stalls, especially around the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple and other major temples.
In the letter, Sharma also linked such commercial participation to what he described as “love jihad conspiracies” and argued that items related to Hindu festivals should be sold only by “Sanatani traders.” He warned that allowing Muslim traders to sell Holi products could hurt religious sentiments and create law and order issues.
Read More: High Alert Across Meerut Range Ahead of Mahashivratri; 3,000 Police Personnel Deployed: Mathura Petitioner Dinesh Sharma Urges Yogi Adityanath to Ban Muslim Vendors from Selling Holi ColoursDinesh Sharma is known for his strong stand on the Mathura dispute. He has claimed that he has given up regular food for the past four years and survives only on fruits, saying he will not resume normal meals until the mosque structure is completely removed from the Janmabhoomi complex.
The demand has reignited the debate around the economic boycott in Uttar Pradesh.
