A clean chit has been given to Sambhal Circle Officer (CO) Anuj Chaudhary of Uttar Pradesh in a police investigation on Friday regarding his comments made during Holi and Eid.
A clean chit was given based on the investigation report submitted by the Superintendent of Police (Law and Order). Statements of Sambhal district officials and residents were recorded during the investigation. The statements of the members of the committee who honored CO Chaudhary were also recorded in the documents.
CO Anuj Chaudhary came under investigation for his comments during the peace committee meeting, where he said: “Holi comes once a year, Jumma comes 52 times. If you want to serve Sevai, you should also eat Gujia.”
Amitabh Thakur filed a complaint on these comments accusing them of violating the police conduct rules. However, there was no evidence supporting the allegations made by the complainant in the investigation.
Earlier, on 6 March, Sambhal’s Circle Officer (CO) Anuj Kumar Chaudhary had said that those who are uncomfortable with colors should remain indoors, because this Hindu festival comes only once a year.
Sambhal’s Circle Officer (CO) Chaudhary said that since Holi comes once a year and there are 52 jumma (Friday) in a year, people of the Muslim community have been requested to stay indoors if they cannot apply color.
Chaudhary told the media, “We have requested the Muslim community that if they do not accept coloring, they should not come to the place where Holi is being celebrated. There are 52 Jumma (Friday) in a year, but there is only one day for Holi. Hindus wait for Holi throughout the year, like Muslims wait for Eid.”
Chaudhary said that Muslims who do not want to apply color during Holi, should stay at home and those who go out, should keep such a “big heart” that if they collide on them, they should not object.
Chaudhary said, “We have given a direct message that when people play Holi and if they (Muslims) do not want them to color, they should stay at home. And if they want to go out of the house, they should keep such a big heart that they should not object if they are colored.”
Chaudhary said that both Hindus and Muslims will celebrate their festivals in their own way.
