Telangana HC order nod for right-wing ‘Dharma Raksha Sabha’ meeting
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Hyderabad: After the Telangana High Court’s approval on January 21, the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi (BGUS) has said it will go ahead with its proposed “Dharma Raksha Sabha” (save religion congregation) at Ganesh Chowk in Hyderabad’s Balapur on January 24.
The organisation had earlier announced plans for a public rally and urged members of the Hindu community to mobilise against what it described as various forms of “jihad,” including “love,” “economic,” “drug,” “food,” and “land” jihad—claims that have repeatedly been rejected by fact-checkers and experts.
The Congress-led state government opposed the rally and approached the High Court, citing concerns over public order, Siasat Daily reported.
Following the court’s decision, BGUS issued a fresh statement welcoming the ruling, which it described as an affirmation of righteousness. The group said the rally would be held under the slogan “Jago Bhagyanagar – Chalo Balapur.”
In its statement, the organisation expressed gratitude to the High Court and the lawyers who, it said, argued in favour of justice. It further claimed that during the court proceedings, the state government acknowledged the presence of around 8,000 Rohingyas allegedly residing illegally in the Balapur area, while failing to provide figures for Bangladeshi nationals.
BGUS alleged that a large number of Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims had settled in Hyderabad and criticised the government for, in its view, prioritising the protection of alleged illegal migrants over public safety.
The term “Bhagyanagar” is used by right-wing groups to refer to Hyderabad, based on their claim that it was the city’s original name, a claim that historians have disputed.
BGUS, which also organises the annual Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav in Hyderabad, has alleged that Hindu youth are being drawn into substance abuse, women are being deceived into relationships that result in forced religious conversions, food is being deliberately adulterated, and temple lands are being encroached upon.