Dehradun, May 28: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Rajkumar Thukral stirred controversy on Saturday by defending the violent mob that attacked a Muslim youth who was found in the premises of a temple in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar. The BJP MLA questioned the presence of the Muslim youth in the temple.

Speaking to the media on Saturday he said, “If police and the administration does not wake up then the Hindu Sena will have to come out and fight the people who wish to destroy Hindu culture.” Thukral also accused the Muslim youth of harming Hindu sentiments.

The BJP MLA's remark comes just days after a Sikh policeman rescued a Muslim man from a mob. Gagandeep Singh saved the life of the Muslim youth who was being assaulted by the mob after the youth was allegedly found in a compromising position with a Hindu girl at the temple. The Sikh police officer was hailed on social media for his heroic act. A video featuring Sub-Inspector Gagandeep Singh went viral on social media platforms. In the pictures and the video, it could be seen that Gagandeep was holding the Muslim youth close to his chest trying to protect him from the mob.

Tthe incident occurred on Tuesday when a Muslim youth went to meet his Hindu girlfriend at the famous Garjia Devi temple. Locals somehow came to know about the presence of the Muslim youth in the temple. Sub-Inspector Gagandeep Singh immediately rushed to the spot where he found a mob preparing to attack the couple. The Sikh police officer shielded the youth by taking several blows from the mob on himself. The police have booked at least five people in connection with this case.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 28, 2018 07:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).