BJP leaders booked for chanting political song in temple in Solan
FOLLOWING complaint of Solan sub divisional magistrate, the police today registered a case against vice president of Himachal Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Rashmidhar Sood and Solan Municipal Corporation depty mayor Meera Anand on the charges of disobedience and Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act.
Notably, the duo BJP leaders along with other women had chanted the political song “Bhajan” in the name of Prime Minister Narendera Modi on the complex of goddess Shoolini temple, considered ruling deity of Solan town and adjoining areas, on Wednesday evening. This had invited sharp criticism from various sections of the society including leaders of ruling congress who had filed complaint with Election Commission and district administration Solan. Soon after this, district election officer cum Deputy Commissioner Solan Manmohan Sharma had ordered a detailed enquiry to SDM Poonam Bansal and had asked to initiate needed lawful action against the alleged accused women leaders..
The police on Thursday registered a case under sections 188, 505(3), 34 IPC, Sec 7 of The Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act 1988 against BJP state vice president Rashmidhar Sood and Solan Municipal Corporation deputy mayor Meera Anand.
Giving this information, Solan
Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said that following SDM complaint stating that they came to know from social media that Rashimdhar Sood BJP Mahila Morcha Himachal Pradesh and Meera Anand Deputy Mayor Solan Municipal Corporation along with their other colleagues came to the goddess Shoolini temple premises on Wednesday evening with their supporters and started singing political song- bhajans with intention to benefit the political party. After this, the police had also recorded the statements of temple’s priest Naresh Kumar and Sevadar Pushpa Mehta who had stated that duo leaders had allegedly misused the temple premises for political gains.
Goddess Shoolini is the presiding deity of Solan city and millions of people not only from Himachal but also from neighboring states have immense faith in goddess. The political song “bhajans” in the name of Modi chanted by the BJP leaders have not only hurt the sentiments of the people but the incident has also brought to light a case of misuse of religious places.
Congress Solan District President Shiv Kumar condemned the act and said that the BJP is also misusing religious place for political benefits in violation of law. He urged the Election Commission and the District Administration to initiate strict action against the guilty leaders.
He said that if religion is linked with faith then it is fine but BJP is linking it with politics which objectionable and against maintaining the peace and harmony in society.
Solan DC Manmohan Sharma said that an inquiry has been ordered in this case adding that necessary lawful action will be taken against the guilties.
