Nuh Violence: BJP MP Rao Inderjit Questions Sword-Brandishing During Shobha Yatra In Mewat; VHP Reacts

The Haryana government was criticised by opposition parties and its own BJP minister over the communal clashes that erupted in Nuh district after a rally by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday. Gurugram MP and Union Minister of State (Independent charge) Rao Inderjit Singh questioned how the rally participants were allowed to carry weapons and said there was provocation from both sides.

“Who gave weapons to them for the procession? Who goes to a procession carrying swords, or sticks? This is wrong. A provocation took place from this side too. I am not saying there was no provocation from the other side,” Rao Inderjit Singh was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

He later said that the Haryana government will conduct an inquiry into how “both the groups managed to get weapons”.

“If both the communities had arms with them, then it is a matter of inquiry as to how they got those arms and why they created such an atmosphere. The Haryana government will conduct an inquiry,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The remarks of the BJP minister drew a sharp response from VHP International working president Alok Kumar, who accused him of ignoring the weapons used by the other community and said that he was trying to secure a vote bank.

“He (Rao Inderjit Singh) saw sticks being carried in the procession, but he didn’t see guns and weapons used by the other side. Those who are making such statements to secure a vote bank, Hindus will teach them a lesson,” Alok Kumar said as quoted by India Today.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the violence in Nuh and questioned the law and order situation in Haryana.

“Gurgaon MP and Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh also questioned why weapons were allowed to be carried in the religious procession. Why was the other side allowed to collect stones like this?” Surjewala asked at a press conference.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also criticised the BJP and alleged that the government’s action will be one-sided.

“Modi’s ministers are saying that those taking out processions in Mewat, Haryana, had weapons, and the police arrangement was inadequate. The failure of the government is clearly visible in Haryana, but we know that the action will be one-sided. Those who are roaming around with guns, harming lives and property of innocent people, those who are desecrating mosques will be called ‘Hriday Samrat’ and will be respected in Mahapanchayat,” he wrote on microblogging site X.