A communally tense situation building up in North-East Delhi’s Shriram Colony since the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mobilised its cadre for a massive “Ekatrikaran Shakha” on June 29 has left the locals intimidated and worried.

According to the residents, the lathi-wielding RSS volunteers, who gathered at a public park, declared they will hold a maha sammelan at there from July 17 to 19, coinciding with the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations. Muslims have been offering Eid prayers in the park every year.

The venue in question has served as a spot for celebration of functions ranging from ceremonial mundans to nikaah over the past decade given it a “public park” image.

The regular RSS congregations in the park during the ongoing month of Ramzan have led to fears in the minority community that the Eid namaz might be disrupted again this year as it was last year on Eid-ul-Zuha.

“This is a deliberate attempt to create a situation of communal conflagration in a predominantly Muslim locality,” said activist Maimoon Mollah.

The RSS, with the help of the local Ramlila committee, had built a platform in the DDA park during Ramlila last year. Though the police had promised it would be removed after the event, the platform still exists in the park.

The locals pointed out that miscreants were trying to add to the communally charged atmosphere by playing loud music during iftaar and the night prayers, and shouting “provocative slogans” during the morning shakhas.

A delegation led by CPI(M) member Brinda Karat met Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi here with a request to ensure that communal forces were dealt with firmly. “It is essential to stop the RSS shakha in the area. All the so-called Ekatrikaran activities must be prevented, more so during the month of Ramzan,” said their memorandum.

Ms. Karat pointed out that communal tensions and incidents had occurred earlier in Shriram Colony. On June 26 and 27, a quarrel between neighbours was given a deliberate communal colour. “However, only the minority community boys were picked up by the police, causing resentment in the area.”

The delegation pointed out that during the shakha everyday, there literally is a situation of curfew where the police protect the RSS by barricading the park. The locals cannot enter the park and fear sending children to school during the shakha hours.

When contacted for comments, a senior RSS functionary alleged that Ms. Karat was attempting to “make an issue out of a non-issue”. “Since inception, our organisation has made it a point to ensure that wherever it congregates, law and order, in addition to issues of communal harmony, do not arise,” said an RSS official.

Mr. Bassi, who was requested to ensure that the shakha is not held during Ramzan and definitely not on Eid, reportedly said he would look into the matter. The police said arrangements have been made to ensue the shakha is dispersed by the time iftaar and evening namaz are due. “We have made arrangements to ensure that no untoward incident is allowed to unfold at the venue, not only in terms of the deployment of the police, but also during interactions with community leaders,” said Joint commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Sanjay Beniwal.

The venue in question has served as a spot for celebration of functions ranging from ceremonial mundans to nikaah over the past decade