The Gujarat Home Department has decided to initiate an inquiry into allegations that security personnel at the Sardar Sarovar dam site in Narmada were turning away Muslim holiday-makers in view of the security threat.
“We have taken a serious note of the incident as reported in your newspaper today. In the first place, this should not have happened at all. I will inquire into it,” Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah told The Indian Express on Wednesday.
As reported by this paper, the security personnel posted at the Narmada dam, as part of the security measures in the wake of the July 26 Ahmedabad serial, were disallowing Muslim tourists from visiting the site. Even a London based Muslim-NRI family was prevented from visiting the site on Sunday.
Police Inspector B M Rajvanshi, who was patrolling the dam site, was reported to have even asked the name of one of the Muslim tourists, and then directed them to go away. The armed guards posted there had even questioned one of the NRI family members about his origins. When this Muslim NRI told the patrolling policemen that he was from the Kosamba area, they reportedly said: “Abhi abhi toh wahan se bombs mile hain (Recently bombs were found there).”
The incident had caused a great deal of embarrassment and shock to the Muslim holiday-makers at the dam site, which is known as a popular picnic spot in Gujarat.
A K Joti, Managing Director, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) termed the incident as “the most unfortunate, and in a bad taste”. He said the Nigam’s tourism cell at the dam site issues entry passes to all tourists without any discrimination. “It is really sad that the security guards posted there should behave in such a bizarre manner with the Muslim visitors. The Nigam will draw the attention of the Home Department to this,” he added.
Courtesy : www.indianexpress.com
“We have taken a serious note of the incident as reported in your newspaper today. In the first place, this should not have happened at all. I will inquire into it,” Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah told The Indian Express on Wednesday.
As reported by this paper, the security personnel posted at the Narmada dam, as part of the security measures in the wake of the July 26 Ahmedabad serial, were disallowing Muslim tourists from visiting the site. Even a London based Muslim-NRI family was prevented from visiting the site on Sunday.
Police Inspector B M Rajvanshi, who was patrolling the dam site, was reported to have even asked the name of one of the Muslim tourists, and then directed them to go away. The armed guards posted there had even questioned one of the NRI family members about his origins. When this Muslim NRI told the patrolling policemen that he was from the Kosamba area, they reportedly said: “Abhi abhi toh wahan se bombs mile hain (Recently bombs were found there).”
The incident had caused a great deal of embarrassment and shock to the Muslim holiday-makers at the dam site, which is known as a popular picnic spot in Gujarat.
A K Joti, Managing Director, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) termed the incident as “the most unfortunate, and in a bad taste”. He said the Nigam’s tourism cell at the dam site issues entry passes to all tourists without any discrimination. “It is really sad that the security guards posted there should behave in such a bizarre manner with the Muslim visitors. The Nigam will draw the attention of the Home Department to this,” he added.
Courtesy : www.indianexpress.com