Ban on ‘Jeth Mela’ is a historic step towards erasing symbols of slavery: Anil Rajbhar

Cabinet Minister Anil Rajbhar welcomes High Court nod on Yogi govt’s ban on Jeth Mela at Salar Masood’s Shrine in Bahraich

Holding a fair in name of an invader who destroyed Somnath and Bahraich’s Surya Mandir is against public sentiment: Anil Rajbhar

Yogi govt is fulfilling PM Modi’s ‘Panch Pran’ vision step by step: Cabinet Minister Anil Rajbhar

Syed Salar Masood was an invader who attacked Sanatan culture: Anil Rajbhar

People having respect for Maharaja Suheldev had long demanded an end to fairs honoring the invader: Anil Rajbhar

Lucknow : In a move hailed as a decisive step towards erasing remnants of historical subjugation, the Yogi Adityanath-led government has imposed a complete ban on the annual ‘Jeth Mela’ held at the dargah of Salar Masood Ghazi in Bahraich. Cabinet Minister Anil Rajbhar welcomed the decision, calling it a “historic step towards eliminating the symbols of slavery.”

The decision was recently upheld by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court, which refused to interfere in the government’s action while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the ban. The court’s stance effectively reinforced the state government’s position.

The Cabinet Minister recalled that Salar Masood Ghazi, who was responsible for the destruction of the Somnath Temple and Bahraich’s Surya Mandir, was defeated and killed in June 1034 by Maharaja Suheldev Rajbhar. Despite this historical legacy, the fair in honor of Salar Masood—locally known as the ‘Gazi Miyan Mela’—had continued for years in Bahraich.

He further said that there had been long-standing demands from locals and followers of Maharaja Suheldev to discontinue the event, viewing it as a glorification of an invader who caused immense cultural harm. The ban, he said, reflects the government’s commitment to honoring true national heroes and correcting the historical narrative.

The Cabinet Minister mentioned that Syed Salar Masood was an invader who attacked Sanatan culture and looted the Somnath temple. “Organizing a fair that glorified such an invader was against public sentiment. By banning this fair, the Yogi government has taken a step towards fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Panch Pran’ resolution, which talks about removing all symbols of slavery.”

He welcomed both the state government’s and the High Court’s decision. He also mentioned that a similar fair in Badaun, held in Salar Masood’s name, had already been stopped earlier. Now, ending the months-long fair in Bahraich is a major step towards protecting Sanatan culture and correcting a historical injustice.