The controversy surrounding the Iftar party in the Ganga River intensified when Rajat Jaiswal, a leader of the BJP’s youth wing, received death threats after raising concerns about the event. Jaiswal, the city president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BYJM), reported the threats to the police, who are investigating the matter. Concerns about Jaiswal’s safety have also been raised due to his residence in a Muslim-majority area.
Days ago, a video of the Iftar party in Varanasi triggered outrage as Hindu groups objected to the consumption of meat and disposal of leftovers in the sacred river. Following a police complaint by Jaiswal, alleging the dumping of meat remnants into the river, an investigation led to the arrest of 14 Muslim youth who were on a boat for Iftar. The accused were subsequently sent to jail until April 1 by the court, considering the seriousness of the offense.
Advocate Shashank Shekhar Tripathi, representing Jaiswal, condemned the threats and intimidation faced by Jaiswal and his legal team following the complaint. He called for the individuals behind the threats to be charged under the National Security Act (NSA). The incident has sparked a debate on religious sentiments and respect for the Ganga River among followers of Sanatan Dharma, who consider the river sacred for their rituals and prayers.
