Meerut: VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi has asked kawarias to boycott kawars made by Muslims, triggering a controversy. She made the sectarian appeal while inaugurating a transit camp in Daha village under Baghpat district near here.

She said Hindus should boycott kawars made by Muslims in the interest of the people of their own faith.

The Baghpat district administration has ordered a probe into the alleged statement by the VHP leader.

Kawarias are Hindu devotees who march to the Ganga in various places to fetch its water to offer it at select Lord Shiva temples in their areas in the Hindu calendar month of shrawan.

A ‘kawar’ is a balance-like implement comprising of a light wooden pole with two water pitchers hanging at its two ends.

The VHP leader said in Haridwar, Muslims make 99% of the kawars. If Hindus boycott the kawars made by Muslims, it would in the interest of the people of their own faith, she added.

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Baghpat superintendent of police Shailesh Pandey said a probe into the alleged statement made by Sadhvi Prachi on Wednesday had been entrusted to the additional superintendent of police Anil Singh.

Action will be taken based on the probe report, he said, adding the police have requisitioned the audio and video clips of her statement.

Sadhvi Prachi, however, neither clarified her statement nor commented upon the probe ordered by the police.

Early this week on Monday, SP’s Kairana MLA Nahid Hasan had urged people of his assembly segment to boycott “pro-BJP” shopkeepers and buy goods of their daily needs from neighbouring Panipat in Haryana to make them “fall in line”.

“My appeal to all the residents of Kairana is that you should stop purchasing goods, items and material from pro-BJP shopkeepers,” Hasan was heard urging people in video footage, which had gone viral on the social media.

Owning up his statement later, Hasan had told PTI, “The small traders both Hindus and Muslims are harassed by pro-BJP shopkeepers of the city, who want to uproot small traders from their traditional marketplace.”

“Here we (Muslims) are more, and you are earning money from us,” said an unabashed Hasan, adding, “This is my personal opinion.”

(PTI)