In Shamli district, 47 Hindu activists have been booked by police for allegedly making communal statements during a meeting. The gathering was held to demand the closure of non-vegetarian hotels and restaurants near temples, a stance that has stirred controversy in the area.
The event, led by Mahant Swami Yashvir of Yog Sadhan Ashram Bhagra, reportedly took place without official permission in Thanabhawan town on September 29. The activists, including Yashvir, assembled outside a non-vegetarian hotel last Sunday, within a hundred-meter radius of temples, demanding its shutdown.
Provocative slogans were allegedly chanted against Muslims during the protest. Station House Officer Virender Kasana confirmed that an FIR was lodged against 47 activists, naming seven, including Swami Yashvir. In reaction, the activists have announced a protest for October 10 to oppose the charges.
This story was originally published in devdiscourse.com.