Violent protests by Muslims in UP’s Meerut, Aligarh, Agra, Etah and Kannauj : Stone- pelting on Police

Case of alleged Insult to Prophet Muhammad by Ghaziabad’s Mahant Yati Narsinghanand

Meerut (UP) – Violent protests erupted across the State following the alleged insult to Prophet Muhammad by Yati Narsinghanand, the Mahant of Deity Dasna Temple in Ghaziabad and Mahamandaleshwar of the Juna Akhara. On 7^thOctober, protests by Muslims turned violent in Meerut, Aligarh, Agra, Etah, and Kannauj, with demonstrators taking to the streets. In Meerut, stones were thrown at the Police, while in Aligarh, Muslim students held protests. Meanwhile, Yati Narsinghanand’s supporters also staged protests in Ghaziabad.

1. The Police have registered cases against 30 prominent individuals and 150 unidentified persons across various locations.

2. In several areas, young Muslim protesters were seen wielding swords and sticks, chanting anti-Hindu and anti-national slogans.

3. Thousands of students from Aligarh Muslim University participated in the protest march in Aligarh.

4. In Agra, the “Uttar Pradesh Muslim Mahapanchayat” led a march to the District Magistrate’s office. So far, 16 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, with 13 placed under judicial custody.

Protest by Yati Narsinghanand’s supporters in Ghaziabad

Supporters of Mahamandaleshwar Yati Narsinghanand staged a protest outside the Ghaziabad Police Commissioner’s office, inquiring about his whereabouts after his detention on 5^thOctober. Dr Udita Tyagi, the General Secretary of the Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati Foundation, stated that they have not been informed of his current whereabouts. If he is not found, Hindu organisations will organise a Mahapanchayat on 13^thOctober.

Who is Yati Narsinghanand ?

Yati Narsinghanand’s birth name is Deepak Tyagi. He is highly educated and completed his primary schooling in Meerut and Hapur. In 1992, he set a record in the Olympiad competition in mathematics. He later pursued an M.Tech from Moscow, Russia. After his education, he worked in the textile industry and later in London. In 1996, he married. Upon returning to India, he entered politics and was elected Mayor of the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation on behalf of the Samajwadi Party. In 2001, he renounced his family, including his wife and 2-year-old daughter, to take Sanyas (asceticism). In 2002, he was initiated by Brahmanand Saraswati and given the name Yati Narsinghanand. He spent considerable time at the Dudheshwarnath Temple and later became the Mahant osf Dasnadevi Temple. To date, 80 complaints have been lodged against him in various cases.