A stall at Delhi’s World Book Fair, run by a Christian organisation, was allegedly vandalised by activists who chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on Wednesday, March 1.
Several on social media uploaded videos and images showing men shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, in front of the stall of the Gideons International, an evangelical Christian association. The organisation distributes free copies of the Bible.
The incident took place at around 2:15 pm.
The Indian Express has reported police as having said that while a protest had taken place, “no books were torn and no violence was witnessed.”
The newspaper also reported that protesters shouted “free Bible bandh karo” – ‘stop the distribution of free Bibles’ – and accused volunteers at the store of converting people into Christianity.
They also, allegedly, tore posters at the stall.
Newslaundry has reported that the agitators sat down around the stall, and refused to leave for 20 to 25 minutes. They also began reciting the Hanuman Chalisa.
When volunteers complained to the organisers of the World Book Fair, they were allegedly told to not distribute the religious texts for free, reported Indian Express.
A spokesperson of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad said that this was not an organised protest.
There are several stalls in the book fair which are run by religious organisations. Stalls run by Hindu, Muslim and Sikh groups also distribute free pamphlets, texts and books.
This incident comes as New Delhi is hosting the high-profile G20 summit, which has been widely advertised by the Narendra Modi government. The Wire
