Hindu Raksha Dal leader Lalit Sharma announced plans to perform a Jalabhishek ritual at Darul Uloom Deoband, asserting that the site is a Shiva temple. While collecting water from the river, Sharma and his supporters chanted slogans including “We will take over the Deoband temple,” “This time we will offer Shivratri water in Deoband,” and “Shiv Shiv chillayenge, mandir wahi banayenge” (We will chant Shiv Shiv and build the temple right there). However, Uttarakhand Police intercepted and stopped Lalit Sharma and his team from proceeding.