Haryana CM M L Khattar: "Namaz In The Open Cannot Be Tolerated"
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2021-12-11 06:28:04
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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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What was becoming increasingly evident in Gurugram got the official seal yesterday when Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that namaz in open cannot be allowed in the city. The administration's change of stance was earlier declared through an order that cancelled the permission granted for offering namaz at more than 30 designated spots.
When Hindu right-wing miscreants had disrupted Friday namaz at several places some months back, the Gurugram administration had identified several spots and allowed Muslims to offer namaz at those spots. But renewed pressure from Hindutva groups and resident's welfare associations (RWAs), obviously instigated by the former, 'forced' the administration to withdraw the permission. The government must investigate the larger conspiracy behind the movement as it clear that the protests are not spontaneous.
Since then, due to the paucity of masjids and enclosed spaces, Muslims are finding it difficult to offer namaz on Fridays. Although several private citizens and the local gurudwara committee have offered their premises for the same, it is not enough. The administration is duty bound to arrange space for the community to offer namaz and instead of denying them permission, should drill some sense in the heads of the miscreants. After all, not allowing a fellow citizen, regardless of his or her religion, the right to pray peacefully is the greatest sin that can be committed as per the tenets of any religion.
Khattar must answer why offering namaz in the open cannot be "tolerated" in Gurugram when it is being done all over the country. In Kolkata, despite the Jama Masjid being nearby, more than 200 people offer namaz on the left flank of Rabindra Sarani from the intersection of Armenian Street to MG Road. There is no objection to that. Similar sights can be witnessed in all cities and towns. Does the Gurugram administration have to do the bidding of the Hindutva right-wing?
It would have been another matter if these namaz sessions were disruptive and created a law and order problem. But those who offer namaz do so silently and peacefully, without dirtying the place or causing any other disturbance, except perhaps disturbing traffic for 10 to 15 minutes in some places. That too can be avoided if the administration offers them space where traffic is not disturbed. Hence, instead of displaying his intolerance, the Haryana chief minister would do well to act on his promise of finding an "amicable" solution to the problem.
