Police remove banner calling for ban on Muslim traders at Kadri temple fair

Mangaluru: The police, on Thursday, removed the banner saying that Muslim traders are not allowed to do business in the Kadri Sri Manjunath temple fair which was put up by the VHP-Bajrang Dal.

The annual fair at the temple is being held from January 15 to 21. The banner was found tied to a road barricade near the entrance on Thursday.

The banner made reference to the recent cooker bomb blast in Mangaluru and alleged that Kadri Manjunath Temple was the prime target of the blast. “People with such a mentality and anyone who believes that idolatry is haram are not allowed to trade in this fair,” it read.

Also, it called for allowing “only Hindu merchants who have faith in the practice and faith of Sanatan Dharma” to conduct business at the fair.

As the temple is managed by the religious endowment department, the management board has not approved the installation of this banner. Therefore, the police cleared the banner to maintain peace and order.

Police said that no complaint has been registered in this regard.