Lucknow: In yet another instance of criminalizing everyday Muslim life in India under Modi, Uttar Pradesh police arrested 14 young men in Varanasi for organizing an Iftar gathering aboard boats on the Ganga River. The arrests followed a complaint saying that the group consumed non-vegetarian food during the event.
According to Kashmir24, the action came after a video circulated on social media showing the men eating chicken biryani and allegedly disposing of leftovers into the river. Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijay Pratap Singh said the men, all in their 20s, were identified through the video and taken into custody.
An FIR was filed following a complaint by BJP youth leader Rajat Jaiswal, claiming the gathering disrespected the religious sanctity of the Ganga. The complaint invoked multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and called for punitive action against the boat operators, including revoking their licence. Police said the investigation is ongoing, citing a probe into the “motive” behind the event.
Critics have condemned the move as selective enforcement of law targeting Muslim religious practices. Journalist Saba Naqvi tweeted: “Why? Is breaking fast on a boat illegal? Simple question.” MP Imran Pratapgarhi added, “UP Police seems eager to set a record for misuse of law. Is this the ‘Sabka Saath – Sabka Vikas’ promised by Narendra Modi, where Muslims face cases for offering namaz or holding iftar?”