Lucknow: All India Muslim Jamaat chief Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi on Monday criticised the installation of signboards in Haridwar that allegedly restrict the entry of non-Hindus at religious sites, saying the move was communal in nature and detrimental to Hindu-Muslim unity.
In a statement, Razvi said Har Ki Pauri and other religious sites in Haridwar have long been centres of worship, rituals and festivals, where people have practised their faith freely in accordance with their beliefs. He maintained that there was no objection to the conduct of religious programmes and stressed that every individual has the right to observe their religion in their own way.
He, however, raised concerns over what he described as a recent and troubling development in the holy city. According to Razvi, boards have been installed at multiple locations, reportedly by the municipal authorities, declaring that non-Hindus are not allowed to enter. He said such measures strengthen communal forces and erode the spirit of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood, Free Press Journal reported.
Referring to India’s shared past, Razvi said the country’s social fabric is rooted in coexistence, with Hindus and Muslims having lived together and faced historic challenges collectively, from the events of 1857 through Independence and beyond.
He alleged that the signboards encourage division and hostility, and urged authorities to have them removed so that public and religious spaces remain open and inclusive, in keeping with constitutional principles and long-standing traditions of communal harmony. He also called on the Uttarakhand government and the Haridwar municipal administration to clarify their position and take swift action to prevent what he termed discriminatory practices in a city held sacred by millions.