Ganga Sabha chief calls for ban on non-Hindus in Haridwar, Kumbh Mela areas

Haridwar: The president of the Ganga Sabha, Nitin Gautam, has demanded a ban on the entry of non-Hindus into the Kumbh Mela area and along the river banks in Haridwar. Referring to recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, Gautam said the time has come to declare the Kumbh Mela zone, and Haridwar city as a whole, "a non-Hindu-free area". Citing "British-era by-laws of the Haridwar municipality that prohibited night stays by non-Hindus", he urged the state govt to enact strict legislation to reintroduce and enforce such restrictions.Addressing a press conference in Haridwar, Gautam, who is also a former district president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, said on Sunday, "To maintain the sanctity of Haridwar, the entire Kumbh Mela area and Haridwar city should be declared a non-Hindu-free zone, and the entry of non-Hindus should be banned. Not just Haridwar city, but all river banks in Haridwar and Rishikesh should also be prohibited for non-Hindus. This is the need of the hour."He added, "Hindus are being killed in Bangladesh and Pakistan, while intruders are receiving benefits in India without obstruction." Gautam claimed that several non-Hindus were living in Haridwar by concealing their identities and urged the govt to take action against such intruders.While right-wing activists have earlier raised similar demands to bar non-Hindus in Haridwar, this is the first time the Ganga Sabha — a long-established body of teerth purohits — has formally backed the call. In the past, the Haridwar municipal corporation had passed a proposal in a board meeting to frame a law barring non-Hindus from the Har Ki Pauri area, but no further action was taken.