Muslim anchor forced to leave Dandiya program in UP's Jhansi

Lucknow: Days after a Muslim youth was thrashed by members of a saffron outfit in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur after he allegedly tried to enter a 'garba, dandiya' (dance events organised during the Navratri) event, a female Muslim anchor was 'forced' to leave a dandiya function in Jhansi district.

According to the reports, the owner of the hall where the dandiya function was being organised, switched off the mic and cut off electricity as soon as the anchor reached the stage and began to speak.

The organiser of the event Mayank Anuragi said that the owner of the venue told him categorically that he would not switch on the sound system and power until the Muslim anchor left the venue. According to the reports, the dandiya function began only after the female Muslim anchor left the venue.

''We had already announced the name of the person who was going to host the event...we had also pasted posters and put up banners in different parts of the city,'' Anuragi said.

The anchor also said that artists do not belong to any caste or religion. ''The artists belong to all.....I have hosted many such programs in the past....I also want to promote Indian culture,'' the anchor said.

Earlier also the activists of saffron outfits had barged into a dandiya event in Jhansi and created a ruckus there after the organisers objected to the checking of aadhar cards.

Barely a few days back, a Muslim youth was thrashed allegedly by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) after he tried to enter a dandiya event in Kanpur.

Videos purportedly showing the youth being beaten by some people after asking him about his religion went viral on social media platforms. .

Police sources said that a case in this connection was lodged and efforts were on to identify the attackers.

The incident comes within days of the saffron outfits, including the VHP and Bjarang Dal, meeting the police officials in Kanpur and demanding that non-Hindus should not be allowed to organise 'garba' and 'dandiya' events on the occasion of Navratri.

Similar incidents of beating of Muslim youths had been reported from different parts of the country earlier as well. In some cases the events had to be cancelled.