Bareilly administration gives permission to observe Azhari Miyan's death anniversary at Mathurapur madrassa

BAREILLY: A day after local administration had denied permission sought to commemorate Azhari Miyan’s first death anniversary – Urs-e-Tajush Shariah – at Islamia Ground in city, on Sunday district magistrate VK Singh said that people associated with Dargah Aala Hazrat had been given permission to observe Urs at Mathurapur madrasa as it is a private premises.
"Since people in a large number are expected to arrive from other districts to attend Urs, adequate police force are being deployed at Moradabad road near the madrasa in order to ensure law and order situation," DM said. The Urs is slated to be held on July 9 and 10.
Speaking with TOI, vice president of Aala Hazrat, Salman Hasan Khan, said that had administration informed them timely about cancellation of the permission, they would have managed all things accordingly but the way they were treated was very disappointing.
"All senior officials told us that all this was happened on the instructions of 'Babaji' (chief minister Yogi Adityanath). Though the followers of Aala Hazrat are very upset with administration who cancelled our programme at the eleventh hour, we are discussing with the members of core committee and trying to make people understand to hold Urs at Mathurapur madrasa. Any written permission from DM in this regard is yet to arrive. Moreover, final decision will be taken once the grand mufti of India, Asjad Raza Khan, arrives from Azamgarh in the night today," Salman Hasan Khan said.
Earlier, on Saturday night a massive crowd of Aala Hazrat followers was gathered at the Dargah and protested against administration’s move of rejecting permission to observe Urs. Notably, city magistrate Sanjay Kumar had given permission to observe Urs at Islamia Ground earlier this year in April after an application was moved in his office by Salman Hasan Khan, associated with Dargah Aala Hazrat.
Since, it is the first time when Urs-e-Tajush Sharia is being observed, some right wing outfit had come in protest raising objections how administration can give permission to a new tradition without procuring government consent.
Thereafter, city magistrate cancelled the permission leaving followers of Barelvi Sunni sect upset. "Now any decision would be taken only by district magistrate regarding Urs and I have nothing to do in this matter," city magistrate told TOI.
Meanwhile, in another development, station house officer Pankaj Verma has been issued marching order on whose report city magistrate had issued permission to hold Urs at Islamia Ground. Inspector Verma is shunted to police lines and inspector Geetesh Kapil is again appointed SHO Kotwali, he had been a predecessor to Verma.