Ranchi: Controversy has erupted in Jharkhand during Muharram festivities following the waving of the Palestinian flag, prompting sharp criticism from the BJP directed at the Hemant Soren government.
The incident, captured in a viral video shared by BJP state president Babulal Marandi, shows individuals in a procession displaying the Palestinian flag.
Marandi has accused the state government of Muslim appeasement, alleging that such actions have emboldened elements with anti-national sentiments to openly express themselves in Jharkhand. According to Marandi, the act of waving the Palestinian flag during a Muharram procession in Dumka, the state’s deputy capital, not only amounts to treason but also aims to intimidate the local population.
In a separate incident in Lohardaga city, unidentified persons were observed waving the Palestinian flag and chanting slogans in support of Palestine on Monday night, as seen in another widely circulated video.
Confirming awareness of the Lohardaga incident, Police Superintendent Haris Bin Zaman mentioned that several youths were involved and that the police are actively investigating the matter.
Zaman emphasized the seriousness of the issue, stating that displaying a foreign flag and chanting in support of a foreign nation constitutes treason under existing laws, which have been further clarified in recent legislation.
The police intend to take legal action based on findings from their ongoing investigation into the incident.
