Gorakhpur fair in Ghazni aide’s name called off

GORAKHPUR: Gorakhpur’s iconic Bale Miyan fair will not take place this year amid claims by the organisers that local authorities in BJP-governed UP have not granted clearance. This will be the first break in the 900-year-old tradition of the fair held in the name of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi, believed to be one of Mahmud of Ghazni’s commanders.The hiatus in Gorakhpur fair — named after Ghazi who is locally referred to as Bale Miyan — comes weeks after cancellations of similar events held in his name in Bahraich and Sambhal. This was followed by CM Yogi Adityanath’s assertion that “glorification of invaders amounted to treason, which independent India will not tolerate”.