BJP removes city president in Ghaziabad for ruckus at wedding

GHAZIABAD: Five days after scores of right-wing activists descended at a reception of an inter-faith couple in Raj Nagar and created a ruckus, the BJP has removed its city president Ajay Sharma from his post for leading the mob. The party has appointed city general secretary Maan Singh Goswami in his place. Earlier, the police had registered two FIRs, including one against Ajay Sharma and 100 others.
However, even after his removal, Sharma remained adamant on his stand and said that although he respected the party’s decision, he had stood with the party workers in the matter and would continue to do so.
Goswami, on the other hand, said the party had made its stand clear on the issue by making him the president. “I would not like to make any comments. The party’s decision is self-explanatory. We believe in sabka saath, sabka vikas. Now the focus is on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The administration is doing its investigation and we will respect its decision,” Goswami told TOI.
A statement issued by the BJP stated that in view of the Ghaziabad incident, UP BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey had decided to release Ajay Sharma from his responsibility of the city head. “City general secretary Maan Singh Goswami is being made the president,” further read the letter signed by state general secretary Vidya Shankar Sonkar.
Meanwhile, the police said they were going through the CCTV recordings and would soon submit their report. “The investigation officer has been given instructions to take action in the matter after going through the CCTV footage,” said circle officer II (city) Atish Kumar.
The first FIR was registered against 60 unidentified people on the complaint of the bride's father in which he had stated that a mob tried to enter his house during reception on December 22. He had also stated that the violent crowd started abusing the guests and also gave life threats to them and his family members.
The second FIR was lodged by the police on their own against 13 named and 100 unidentified people. The 13 named accused include BJP city president Ajay Sharma among others. The case had been filed under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 336 (endangering life or personal safety of others), 341 (wrongful restraint), 427 (mischief causing damage) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty).
The girl, a resident of Raj Nagar, and daughter of a city-based businessman, had got married to a boy, a Muslim and a resident of Noida, on Friday under the Special Marriage Act. Later in the day, a reception was planned at the girl's house. Even as the function was underway, right-wing activists, led by BJP city president Ajay Sharma, landed at the reception venue, calling it a ‘love jihad’ and created a ruckus. He was joined by members of Bajrang Dal, Hindu Raksha Dal, and Dharam Jagran Manch. For several hours, they created a ruckus and also blocked the traffic.
UP BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi confirmed that he has been removed from the party for protesting against the inter-religious marriage even when both the parties were okay with the marriage.
When asked what was the party’s stand on inter-religious marriages, Tripathi categorically stated that the party was clear that it has no problem when both the sides agreed to it. “Jab miyan biwi razi toh kya karega kazi”, Tripathi said. However, if the girl or her family was kept in dark or was misled in anyway, the party would certainly oppose such marriages, he said.