Ban on Jeth Mela a historic step, says UP min Anil Rajbhar
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister
Anil Rajbhar
has welcomed Yogi govt's decision to ban the annual Jeth Mela at the dargah of
Salar Masood Ghazi
in Bahraich, calling it a historic step toward removing remnants of slavery.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has also upheld the decision.
Rajbhar said Salar Masood, an 11th-century invader, is said to have been defeated and killed by Maharaja Suheldev in June 1034. Despite this, the annual fair continued for decades under the name of Ghazi Miyan, hurting public sentiment.
He said the fair glorified an invader who attacked Sanatan culture, and its discontinuation reflects long-standing demands of Suheldev's followers and local residents.
Rajbhar added that the decision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Panch Pran' pledge, which calls for erasing all symbols of colonial and cultural subjugation. He also noted that a similar fair in Budaun was banned earlier.
"This is a decisive move towards correcting historical wrongs and protecting our civilizational values," Rajbhar said.
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