Hanuman Chalisa Call Across Church Puts Hisar on Alert
Bajrang Dal, VHP plan mass recitation near St Thomas Church on Christmas, police deploy forces
- Right-wing groups announce Hanuman Chalisa event near church in Hisar
- Event coincides with Christmas and Maharaja Surajmal Balidan Diwas
- Heavy police deployment, water cannons, barricading in place
- Christian community expresses unease, seeks alternative venue
GG News Bureau
Hisar, 25th Dec: Security has been tightened in Haryana’s Hisar after Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad announced a mass recitation of Hanuman Chalisa at Krantiman Park, located directly across the 160-year-old St Thomas Church, on Christmas Day.
The event is being held to mark Maharaja Surajmal Balidan Diwas. According to the Surajmal Memorial Education Society, Maharaja Surajmal, ruler of the erstwhile Bharatpur kingdom, sacrificed his life on December 25, 1763, after dedicating himself to social reform, national integration and fighting social injustice.
Following the announcement, the district administration deployed three companies of police personnel, barricaded the area and positioned water cannons to prevent any law and order situation.
DSP Sumit said the administration is striving to ensure that programmes of both religious communities are conducted peacefully. “The matter regarding permission for the programmes of Bajrang Dal and VHP is under consideration. Notices have been issued to four leaders, making them responsible for maintaining peace and informing the administration about crowd size and management plans,” he said.
Despite the cautionary steps, flags and banners were put up at Krantiman Park on Wednesday evening, and a ritualistic fire ceremony was initiated.
VHP member Professor Deepak Kumar said the event was organised on public demand and that there was no controversy behind choosing the venue. He maintained that the location was selected because it lies in the heart of the city and that police were cooperating in traffic management.
However, representatives of the Christian community expressed concern. Victor David said Christmas has been celebrated at St Thomas Church for the past 160 years and such a situation had never arisen before. He added that the Christian community has requested the administration to either provide space at Krantiman Park for church events or allot an alternative venue.
Krantiman Park, formerly known as Company Garden during the British era, is located near the church and also houses a pillar commemorating the 1857 rebellion.
The district administration said the situation is under continuous monitoring and that all necessary steps have been taken to maintain harmony and peace in the city.
