Ghaziabad: In a bid to prevent potential communal tensions, Ghaziabad police have placed Yati Narsinghanand and his supporters under house arrest. As per reports, the action comes ahead of a planned Hanuman Chalisa recitation event at Jantar Mantar on March 17, which was organised in opposition to a gathering led by Maulana Arshad Madani in support of the Waqf Board.
Udita Tyagi, an associate of Narsinghanand from the Shiv Shakti Dham temple, confirmed the development to ETV Bharat. She stated that Maulana Madani had initially scheduled a protest at Jantar Mantar on March 13 but later rescheduled it for March 17.
In response, Narsinghanand and his followers had vowed to counter the event with a recitation of Hanuman Chalisa at the same venue. However, authorities stepped in to prevent any escalation.
To maintain law and order, police have restricted Narsinghanand to his temple premises and barred his supporters from leaving their homes. Officials have cited the move as a precautionary measure to avoid clashes and maintain peace in the national capital region.
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding public religious gatherings has intensified. In Meerut, Hindu organisation leader Sachin Sirohi has opposed group namaz at IIMT University, calling for prayers to be conducted in designated places rather than open spaces. Narsinghanand has also voiced his discontent, asserting that efforts to "spread fanaticism" in educational institutions should be countered.
The ongoing tension has raised concerns about a possible repeat of past protests like Shaheen Bagh, with both sides steadfast in their positions. Law enforcement agencies continue to monitor the situation to prevent any untoward incidents on March 17.
