Centre’s advisory to states: Monitor any factor that can disturb communal harmony during Hanuman Jayanti | India News

NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry has asked all states to maintain law and order and ensure that Hanuman Jayanti is observed peacefully.
The states have been told to monitor any factor that can disturb communal harmony during the festivities.
“The state/UT governments are encouraged to ensure the maintenance of law and order, peaceful observance of the festival, and monitoring of any factors that could disturb communal harmony in society,” the home minister’s office tweeted.

The MHA advisory comes in the wake of communal violence in different parts of the country during Ram Navami last week.
Clashes were reported from some districts in West Bengal, Bihar and Maharashtra.

In West Bengal, violent incidents were witnessed in Howrah during the Ram Navami procession. Later violence was also reported from two towns in Hooghly district.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of organising violence.

“The BJP is behind the violence in Hooghly and Howrah. They had brought in hired ‘goondas’ from other states to unleash violence in Bengal, which is not in our culture. They are defaming the Hindu religion by pitting one community against another. But rioters have no religion, they are just political goons. I appeal to everyone to maintain calm,” Mamata had said on Monday.
In Bihar, clashes erupted in Sasaram and Bihar Sharif during Ram Navami. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar denied “administrative laxity” and said the riots were “orchestrated (‘jaan boojhkar karvaaya gaya’)” and “those behind the incident will be known soon. Just wait, door to door searches are on”.
“The riots last week were planned thoroughly,” Nitish Kumar said.
(With inputs from agencies)