CANACONA
When a large number of people under the banner of Hindavi Swaraj Sanghatan gathered outside the Canacona Deputy Collectorate complex on September 26 to oppose permission for a Julus procession by the Muslim community in Canacona, it exposed a communal discord in the taluka which has been building over the past three years.
In April 2021, activists under the banner of Jagruth Canconcars (JF) had objected to the construction of a house at Dhupemoll area of Shristhal village, after alleging that its architecture resembles that of a Masjid-cum-Madrasa.
The JF had claimed that the Muslim community already has a place of worship at Tembewada-Nagarcem, and attempts to bring in Madrasas and Masjids in other residential areas was unwarranted and would disturb communal harmony prevailing in the taluka since ages.
The matter was finally put to rest when the Shristhal panchayat while issuing a licence for the structure warned that the premises could only be used for residential purposes.
Fearing an influx of outsiders in the area, the Hindavi Swaraj Sanghatan (HSS) on October 14, 2021 renamed Dhupyamoll, a newly developed residential area in Shrishthal panchayat, as 'Dharmveer Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar'.
Law and order
situation
Communal tensions came to the fore yet again last month, when the HSS objected to a proposal by the Muslim community to hold the Julus procession in Canacona. The Bajrang Dal members and others had also filed similar objections.
These groups claimed that the Julus procession by Muslims is not a tradition among the very few Muslim families in the taluka, and alleged that the Julus procession is being forcibly organised since the past 5 years by people arriving from Kumta, Dharwad, Hubli and Bhatkal in neighbouring Karnataka.
They felt that the presence of a large number of outsiders could become a security concern and a social disturbance, which could lead to a law and order situation if permission is granted.
The Canacona deputy collector had declined two previous attempts by the Sunni Islami Jame Masjid of Colomb-Canacona to hold the Julus procession, on grounds that there were other events on the same day.
A third attempt made to hold the Julus procession on September 30 infuriated the HSS. Following a public appeal, hundreds of people assembled outside the Canacona Dy Collectorate on September 28 to voice their objection and to demand a permanent ban on Julus procession in Canacona.
Some of the speakers addressing the crowd were accused of making inflammatory speeches against the Muslim community and even went to the extent of calling for a shutdown of the weekly Saturday Bazaar at Chaudi and to ban non-resident Muslim traders from the outside the taluka from participating in the weekly bazaar.
Fearing backlash, most of the outstation traders failed to turn up at the weekly bazaar on September 28, and a few traders were eventually persuaded by a local councillor to participate in the bazaar in the second half of the day.
Various complaints and counter-complaints were lodged at some police stations in the State over the alleged inflammatory speeches made at Canacona. In response, the HSS convened a meeting of all Devasthans/Devalayas in Canacona.
Third request
denied by police
Addressing a news conference, Ilhas Yacub Khan, President of Sunni Islami Jama Masjid refuted allegations that outstation Muslims had been participating in the Julus processions in Canacona in previous years.
“We have been holding the Julus procession for a long time, but it had been only by a few Muslims. Since the number of Muslims has increased, we were advised by police to seek permission for the Julus procession and we are applying every year since the last 5 years,” said Khan.
Justifying multiple applications to hold the Julus procession, Khan said they had agreed to avoid the Julus procession during the Ganesh Visarjan ceremony of the Hindu community.
“On the advise of the Maulana that Julus procession can be held anytime before the end of September, we had made a third application seeking the Julus procession on September 30. But after our third request was also denied citing law and order problem, we stopped at that since the Julus procession cannot be held after September,” said Khan.
Added another member from the Muslim community: “It is for the government to initiate action on inflammatory speeches made against Muslim community without any provocation and just because we want to practice our religion and our religious beliefs in Canacona.”
