After Sambhal, centuries-old Masood Ghazi Dargah Fair banned in Bahraich

Lucknow: For the first time in almost 500 years, there will be no Fair at the ‘Dargah’ (tomb) of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich town this year as the district administration refused permission for the same apprehending that it might create law and order problem given the situation in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.

The ban on the annual Fair comes close on the heels of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s assertion in Bahraich a few days back that the country would not tolerate glorification of foreign invaders.

Several saffron outfits had earlier demanded ban on the annual fair, which attracted lakhs of devotees, mostly Hindus, from across the country, saying that Masood Ghazi, who was the nephew of Mohammed Ghaznavi, who had attacked and plundered India in the 11th century, had demolished temples and killed the Hindus.

According to the sources, the Dargah Management Committee had written to the district authorities seeking permission to hold the annual Fair. The authorities had sought a report from the local intelligence unit (LIU).

Sources said that the LIU, in its report, said that there was a possibility of protests against the Fair by some organisations and that there was anger in the people following the Pahalgam terror attack and as such there might arise a law and order problem.

The Dargah Committee said that the district administration did not hold any meeting with its representatives. It said that the Dargah was a symbol of communal harmony and that the visitors included more Hindus than Muslims.

Earlier the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and some other saffron outfits had submitted a memorandum to the officials seeking a ban on the Fair. Earlier the authorities had also banned the annual Neza Mela in Sambhal.