Sun Dec 08 12:31:58 UTC 2024: **Indore Concert Sparks Controversy: Bajrang Dal, VHP Protest Diljit Dosanjh’s Show Over Alcohol, Meat Concerns**
INDORE – The upcoming concert of Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh in Indore has sparked a major controversy, with members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) staging protests against the event. The right-wing groups allege that the concert promotes alcohol consumption and the serving of non-vegetarian food, claiming it goes against local culture and traditions.
On Sunday morning, protestors gathered outside the Collectorate, staging a demonstration. Later, they attempted to enter the concert venue, C21 Estate Ground on the bypass, demanding inspection. Following the protests, alleged alcohol and meat stalls were removed from the venue.
Bajrang Dal and VHP activists warned that they would not tolerate the serving of alcohol and meat, or any obscenity at the event. They vowed to remain at the venue until the concert’s conclusion, threatening to take matters into their own hands if police action was deemed insufficient.
Former Minister and BJP MLA Usha Thakur and BJP MLA Golu Shukla voiced their support for the protestors’ demands, calling for the cancellation of the concert, stating it contradicted the values of their culture, particularly given the ongoing 300th birth anniversary celebrations of Ahilya Bai Holkar. They criticized the presence of alcohol and non-vegetarian food stalls as being against Indian culture.
Yash Bachani, the Bajrang Dal’s Indore division minister, specifically highlighted the presence of large beer and meat stalls surrounding the stage. While stating that they didn’t oppose entertainment events in principle, he asserted that they would not tolerate any actions that challenged Indore’s cultural norms.
A confrontation ensued between the protestors and Additional DCP Amarendra Singh (Zone-2) when the activists tried to enter the venue without permission. Following negotiations and inspections, it was confirmed that the alcohol and meat stalls had been removed. However, the Bajrang Dal continues to demand that some of their members be allowed to monitor the concert throughout its duration. The police have deployed a large security presence, including volunteers, and have implemented stringent security measures around the venue. Diljit Dosanjh is reportedly staying at the Hotel Marriott. The situation remains tense, with the Bajrang Dal maintaining a presence near the venue until after the concert concludes.
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