BJP Leader Ambushes Inside Jama Masjid, Hoists Flag, Chants “Provocative” Slogans

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the nation on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day of India from the Red Fort on Wednesday, around a kilometre away from the historical wall, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader IP Singh, along with the party workers, forcefully hoisted the tricolor inside the Jama Masjid premises. 

Singh and his party workers were seen chanting slogan 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', and slogans against Shahi Imam, Syed Ahmed Bukhari. He also recoded the video and posted it on Twitter, saying: 'Toka-toki ke bawjood Jama Masjid prangan par tiranga lahra diya hai. Shahi imam kahan gayab ho gaye the, ye prashn hai. Filhal hame desh me tiranga lehrane ke liye kisi ki anumati ki zarurat nahi. Aaj maine Jama Masjid par dhwajarohan kiya, roke jane ke bawajood. (Despite objections, we waved the tricolor in the Jama Masjid premises. The question is where did the Shahi Imam disappear. We don't need anyone's permission to wave tricolor in this country for now. Today, I hoisted the flag inside Jama Masjid even after obstruction).’

71 साल बाद जामा मस्जिद दिल्ली की छाती
पर चढ़कर हमने कार्यकर्ताओं के साथ राष्ट्रीय ध्वज फहराया,वन्दे मातरम pic.twitter.com/j3Xk8VkWMI

— IP Singh (@ipsinghbjp) August 15, 2018

In another tweet he says, "Ekyahataar saal baad Jama Masjid Delhi ki chhati par chad kar hamne karykartaon ke saath rashtriya dhwaj fahraya. Jama masjid parisar me 'Bharat Mata Ki Jay' aur 'Vande Mataram' ke naare lagaye gaye. (After 71 years, we, along with party workers, forcefully hoisted a national flag in Jama Masjid, Delhi. Chanted slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jay and 'Vande Mataram').”

Many social media users slammed the BJP leader for trying to disrupt the communal harmony. Aam Aadmi Party MLA Alka Lamba expressed her anger, and said, "It is very sad that a few sanghi goons entered Jama Masjid and started provoking the Muslims who were present there. They were alleging that Muslims did not take part in today’s Independence Day celebrations. These photos of mine prove that imam sahab himself prayed for the country. The tricolour was flying everywhere. Be careful.” 

बेहद दुःख की बात है कि आज कुछ संघी-तिलक-भगवाधारी गुंडे जामा-मस्जिद में घुस कर मुस्लिमों को उकसाने लगे,आरोप की वह आज आज़ादी के जश्न में शामिल नही हुए,
मेरी आज की कुछ तस्वीरें साबित करती हैं कि इमाम साहब ने खुद देश के लिये दुआओं में हिस्सा लिया,हर और तिरंगा लहरा रहा था।
सम्भल कर। pic.twitter.com/3l6KFZUUdg

— Alka Lamba (@LambaAlka) August 15, 2018

Speaking to Newsclick, Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari said, "They started chanting slogans and entered the masjid from gate number 1. Not only were they chanting ‘Bharat Mata Kai Jay’, ‘Vande Mataram’, but also’ ‘Har Har Mahadev’. Why were they chanting such slogans inside masjid premises? They came to Jama Masjid with the intention of making Muslims angry, so that can lead to communal tension across the country, starting from Jama Masjid. And yes, we fly the national flag with love and respect because we are Indians. We do not surrender to anyone's pressure."

He further added that he asked his people not to get provoked, as they were also yelling 'Imam Bukahri zindabad (Long live Shahi Imam)'. They asked the BJP workers not to chant slogans inside premises. They reportedly told them that if they want, they can do it outside the masjid. "We respect our national flag, but our religion does not allow to chant such slogans. We are also filing a complaint with the police so that no such incident happens in future," said Bukhari.

He further added, "It was very unfortunate that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the nation a few kilometre away, there was not a single policeman available at Jama Masjid. It shows the administration’s failure and the security lapses in protecting a historic mosque. But, we did not allow them to succeed in their plan."