Ranchi: In Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, Kanwariyas (devotees of Lord Shiva) were denied entry into the ‘Mall of Ranchi’ located on Ratu Road because they were not wearing shoes or slippers. A video of the incident went viral on social media.
Meanwhile, the matter has sparked political controversy, with opposition parties demanding that the registration of the ‘Mall of Ranchi’ be cancelled. The video shows several young men dressed in saffron attire attempting to enter the mall barefoot. However, they are stopped at the entrance by mall staff, one of whom can be heard stating that this is the mall’s protocol.
Mall’s registration should be cancelled: Rakesh Sinha
Rakesh Sinha, General Secretary of the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress, questioned why leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have remained silent on the matter.
शर्मनाक।
सनातनियों का अपमान बर्दाश्त नहीं होगा।
अविलंब Mall of Ranchi प्रबंधन के खिलाफ कड़ी धाराओं में केस दर्ज हो। आप कावरियो को उनकी वेशभूषा के कारण मॉल में प्रवेश देने से कैसे रोक सकते हैं?@JharkhandPolice @digranchi @DC_Ranchi @ranchipolice @ANI @SudarshanNewsTV @PTI_News— Pratul Shah Deo🇮🇳 (@pratulshahdeo) August 10, 2024
In a post on X, he said, “Shameful. Insult of Sanatanis will not be tolerated. A case should be filed against the Mall of Ranchi management under stringent sections without delay. How can you stop the Kanwariyas from entering the mall because of their attire?”
Preventing entry to mall is very shameful, says BJP leader Pratul Shahdeo
Reacting to the incident, BJP’s state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo called it “disgraceful”. He criticised the mall for barring Kanwariyas from entry based on their attire and bare feet during the holy month of Sawan.
He demanded immediate action from the Jharkhand Police and state government against the mall’s management, insisting that they must apologise for disrespecting Sanatan Dharma.
However, it is still unclear who the young men in saffron attire were and where they came from. The local administration is aware of the situation and officials are gathering information from the mall management.
The ‘Mall of Ranchi,’ which spans 2.5 lakh square feet and houses multiple brand showrooms, was inaugurated on August 13, 2023, by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and renowned Bollywood filmmaker Prakash Jha.
An official from the mall, S Sanyal, issued an apology, stating that they respect all religions. He explained that the mall has escalators and slippery floors, and the request not to enter barefoot was made to prevent accidents.