Doesn’t dumping sewage in Ganga hurt sentiments? Slams Owaisi

Lucknow: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday came down on authorities in Varanasi over the arrest of 14 Muslim youths accused of hurting religious sentiments by holding an Iftar gathering on the Ganga River.

The youths were arrested after a video surfaced showing them eating chicken biryani on a boat during Ramzan and allegedly discarding leftovers into the river. Police registered a case under charges related to defiling a place of worship and offending religious sentiments, following a complaint filed by a local leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha at the Kotwali Police Station.

Owaisi questioned the basis of the arrests, arguing that consuming food on a boat could not reasonably be seen as an act that harms religious beliefs. He also raised concerns about environmental practices, pointing out that pollution flowing into the river does not appear to trigger similar outrage or action from authorities.

Alleging discrimination, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said the youths were targeted because of their religious identity. He further questioned what he described as selective sensitivity, noting that commercial activities such as liquor sales continued during Ramzan despite potentially offending Muslim sentiments.

The complaint against the group alleged that organising an Iftar gathering with non-vegetarian food on the river was disrespectful and offensive. Authorities have maintained that legal action was taken based on the complaint and available evidence.

The incident has sparked debate over religious sensitivity, selective enforcement, and the balance between individual freedoms and community sentiments in a diverse society.