BJP MLA Balmukund and his Hinduva hoodlums assaulted Muslim women over offering Namaz in Imambara, in Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan on October 23. They also stamped out the curtains that are used in Imambaras’ to separate women’s portion and asked the Muslim women to show statues.
“They arrived here with their slippers and shoes on and asked us to show”Moorti “! But how can we show Moorti to them?”, said a Muslim woman to Aaj Tak.
“Can we ask him to show the Alam (religious flag) in a temple?” she added.
Balmukund Acharya was accompanied by 4-5 people while spreading-up Hindutva hooliganism inside the Imambara. They also misbehaved with the Imam Asad Ali Meer and raised questions on the fresh-painted walls and internal Islamic decorations of the pious edifice. There were also several young Muslim girls present at the moment who felt extremely terrified of communal attacks.
“They came and started thrashing the doors in order to open them. Girls were terrified and they were running inside to hide and to keep safe” a woman described.
The Hindutva goons shoved women to vacate and then they started inspecting the Imambara and searching for the Moorti. They pounded the main door with their feet.
Womens’ Segment Is Often A Target
It’s not the first time when they stepped into the women’s segment where many “Pardadar” women and young girls offer prayers to Almighty Allah.
Muslim women said that they often target women’s area of the Imambara because they “assume” that it would be easy to assault Muslim women. They reported that Hindutva goons have attacked more than 4 times and they often mark particular occasions when some religious activity is organised inside.
MLA Balmukund Acharya and his goons claim that Imambara is built on illegal land and there is a blistering conflict between the Waqf board and the Hindutva rule, however Waqf has the legal right of ownership.
Also, on the other side of Imamabara there is an old temple which no Muslim has ever embattled. Muslim women pointed out that the Hindutva politics intends to snatch their religious territory amid ongoing illegal encroachments by the non-Muslim residents on their land.
“Baba Hain, Bawal Karenge”
Balmukund Acharya is also identified with the slogan “Baba hain, Bawal karenge!”. He is MLA from Hawamahel, Jaipur who was outraged after the Waqf board put a board in the area to declare its ownership. The board was installed with all the official permission required after the request of Dr. Khanu Khan who wrote a letter to the police commissioner.
A local moderator of the Shia community, Syed Jaafar Abbas, said that the Imambara has ample land; the mosque, graveyard and attached properties come under the territory of Nawab Hamdani Imambargah. The board was showcased after the appeal got approved by the administration which the Hindutva goons are not ready to accept.
