Rival Senas hold ‘Ghanta Naad’ protests at Kalyan’s Durgadi Fort; BJP neta detained

Kalyan: Police on Thursday deployed heavy security in Kalyan as members of the rival Shiv Sena factions held parallel ‘Ghanta Naad’ (pealing of bells) protests over restrictions on entry to the temple inside Durgadi Fort during Bakri Eid prayers.

Police also detained BJP corporator Mahesh Patil from his residence before the protests began. Patil had warned that if Hindus were stopped from entering the temple inside the fort premises, he would recite the Hanuman Chalisa on the road.

Durgadi Fort houses places of worship for both Hindus and Muslims. During Bakri Eid, Muslims gather in large numbers to pray at the fort’s Idgah section. Consequently, Hindu devotees are restricted from entering the Durga temple located at the fort’s front to maintain peace. This year, however, workers from both the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction opposed the restrictions and demanded entry to the temple during the prayer period.

Additional commissioner of police Sanjay Jadhav said the temporary restriction during Bakri Eid prayers has been in place for years and adequate security arrangements were deployed to maintain law and order.

During Thursday’s protests, workers from both the Senas attempted to cross the police barricades installed near the fort, but were stopped. The event also witnessed sharp exchanges between the two factions.

Taking a swipe at Shiv Sena, UBT’s deputy leader Vijay Salvi said Ghanta Naad Andolan was started by late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe in 1982, and was later represented for years by Eknath Shinde. “Today Shinde is deputy chief minister and part of state govt, yet his own administration is restricting Hindus from entering the temple. Their participation in the protest exposes their duplicate Hindutva,” Salvi alleged, while also accusing BJP of indulging in “political drama”. This is the first time that BJP has participated in the ‘Ghanta Naad’ protest .

Shiv Sena’s protest was led by Thane district president Gopal Landge, along with Ravi Patil and Mahesh Gaikwad. Sena workers said the issue related to ownership of the site is pending before the court and they are hopeful to get justice.