Amidst the recent reopening of a temple that has been locked since 1978 in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has brought attention to the district's history of communal violence. He stated that 209 Hindus have been killed since 1947, with 184 being killed in 1978 alone. Violent incidents have continued to occur in subsequent years, resulting in a decrease in the number of Hindus living in the area. Recently, three damaged idols were found in a well near the reopened temple, adding to tensions in the district.
In a heated debate in Parliament, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP government, accusing them of systematically dismantling the principles of equality and justice enshrined in the Constitution. He cited RSS ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's views to draw a parallel with the BJP's ideological goals, and used the story of Eklavya as a metaphor to criticize their policies. Gandhi also condemned the government for its handling of the Hathras gang rape case and the recent violence in Sambhal, calling for accountability.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi's planned visit to Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh faced hurdles from authorities as barricades were placed at the Ghazipur border to prevent their entry. This visit was seen as an attempt to uncover the conspiracy behind the November violence in the district. The Samajwadi Party criticised the visit and called it a mere formality, highlighting the lack of parliamentary discussion on the issue.
The ongoing investigation into the recent communal clashes in Sambhal leads to a possible Pakistan connection and the UP Police have recovered ammunition manufactured by the Pakistan Ordnance Factory. As the violence is being investigated by a special investigation team, the UP government has decided to relaunch its controversial ‘naming and shaming’ campaign. This campaign will display names, recovery amounts, and photographs of suspects involved in the violence in public places. The tension in Sambhal began due to a crowd resisting a court-ordered survey of the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid, which was being investigated for allegedly being built atop a temple.
The leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, led a Congress delegation to Sambhal, where recent violence has claimed four lives. However, Gandhi was stopped at the district borders by police and administration officials citing prohibitory orders. Despite attempts to negotiate, Gandhi was not allowed to enter the district and returned back to Delhi. His sister and fellow Congress MP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, expressed disappointment at the denial of Gandhi's constitutional right to visit the site of the violence. This incident raises questions about the state of civil liberties and freedom of movement in the country.
Both Houses of Parliament experienced disruptions on the second business day of the winter session as opposition members raised protests over various issues, resulting in repeated adjournments. The primary focus of these protests were discussions on allegations of wrongdoing by the Adani Group and the violence in Sambhal. With talks of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) inquiry and Congress's Priyanka Gandhi set to take oath as an MP, it is unlikely that Thursday's session will see any significant progress. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha has reiterated the need to follow established traditions and respect rulings from the Chair, while opposition parties have filed multiple notices seeking discussions on various issues.
Tension has been brewing in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal region over a court-ordered survey of a mosque that has reportedly killed five people. Police have filed a case against Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Warq and MLA Nawab Iqbal's son Sohail Iqbal for allegedly inciting violence during the survey. The administration has imposed a ban on outsiders entering Sambhal till November 30, following the clashes between the survey team and a mob who pelted stones and torched vehicles, injuring thirty-six police officers.
Police have filed seven FIRs in connection with the violent protests against the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, naming prominent Samajwadi Party leaders as accused. Three people were killed on Sunday, and one more person succumbed to their injuries on Monday as protesters clashed with security personnel. The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders and declared a holiday in all schools as a precautionary measure. A press conference by officials has confirmed the arrest of 25 people and efforts to identify others involved in the violence.
Following a violent clash in the district, the Sambhal administration has suspended internet services and closed schools as a precautionary measure. Around 20 people have been taken into custody after stone-pelting and clashes broke out during a survey of a mosque. Sambhal Superintendent of Police ensures the situation is under control and additional personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.
On Sunday morning, Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh saw an outburst of violence when a team of surveyors arrived at the Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a second survey of the mosque. The police had to resort to lathi charge and tear gas shells to control the crowd, who were throwing stones and attacking media personnel. Amidst all this chaos, the police announced that they would take strict action against those who were involved in the violence, stating that their actions were illegal under section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita.