Nagpur: Man files complaint against RSS's 'Shastra Puja' on Dussehra

A Nagpur resident has filed a complaint against the ‘Shastra Puja’ conducted by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the city on the occasion of Dussehra on Wednesday. The ‘weapon worship’ ritual is famously performed on Vijay Dashmi or Dussehra as per the Hindu religious beliefs. The Nagpur resident, Mohnish Jivanlal Jabalpure, who registered the complaint against RSS, has mentioned that conducting a ritual that involves real weapons, without arms licenses is an offence. Additionally, he justified his claim by saying that the Model Code of Conduct is in force in Maharashtra for Assembly elections.

‘No complaint registered’ 

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) performs the weapon worship on the occasion of Dussehra at its headquarters in Nagpur every year. Jabalpure claimed that he had registered the complaint at Kotwali Police Station by post. However, inspector Dnyaneshwar Bhosale of the Kotwali police station denied having received any such complaint so far. 

Mohnish Jivanlal Jabalpure also claimed that he had registered a similar complaint against the RSS with Kotwali police last year too. As the police did not acknowledge or took no action last year, Jabalpure moved to the Nagpur sessions court a few months ago. The police officers from the Kotwali police station have been summoned by the court on November 5.

Read | 1984 picture of Sea Harrier's Shastra Puja busts Congress over Rafale

Read | Congress forgetting Shastra Puja by Gursharan Kaur in rush to attack?

Shastra Puja in France  

The Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh performed the Shastra Puja in France’s Merignac airbase, as the Rafale combat aircraft was handed over to India. The Defence Minister was seen marking an ‘Aum’ symbol on the aircraft with vermillion. As a part of Shastra Puja, it was also seen that coconut was placed on the wing of the aircraft and holy turmeric threads were tied around the wing of the jet. The Minister received the first aircraft out of the 36 fighter jets on behalf of the IAF from the Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier at the handover ceremony.  

Read | Forces mark Shastra Puja pan-India, pics bust Cong's 'communal' spin

Read | Amit Shah slams the Congress party for mocking 'Shastra Puja'

(With PTI Inputs)