Prayer should be offered in mosques instead of public places, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar

Prayer should be offered in mosques instead of public places, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar
Vikas Vasudeva MAY 06, 2018 14:42 IST

Row Over Prayers in public Places

In the past few days, several instances of disruptions have been reported.

Following instances of disruption while namaz (prayer) was being offered in open spaces in the National Capital Region over the past few days, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Sunday that it should be offered in mosques or ‘eidgahs’ instead of public places.

“We are of the view that namaz should be offered at mosques or ‘eidgahs’... In case of shortage of space, it should be offered at a personal place. These are issues which should not be put for public display... It should be avoided at public places for the convenience of all,” he told journalists here.

Mr. Khattar said directions had been issued to officials to take precautionary measures to ensure harmony. Some organisations had submitted complaints regarding namaz at public places, he added.

Mr. Khattar said his government ensured law and order in the State so that the people could live peacefully. “...no criminal can escape after committing any crime.”

The Chief Minister said Haryana Police Cadet Corps, on the lines of the National Cadet Corps, was being set up, involving students from Class XI to graduation.

Mr. Khattar urged the Punjab government to join hands with Haryana to check wasteful flow of Ravi waters to Pakistan because of the unprecedented water crisis looming in both States.

“I have written to Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh to direct the officers concerned to take up the proposal in right earnest. Quoting from the letter, he said: “More and more blocks of Haryana and Punjab have anyway been slipping into the category of over-exploited blocks even as our hard-working farmers toil in the face of a stressed farm sector. I think the time has come when we must join hands in checking the wasteful flow of Ravi waters to Pakistan.”

Khattar's statement

In a late evening statement, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar clarified that in his statement regarding offering Namaz at public places, he had never said anything regarding stopping anyone from offering Namaz.He said if anyone had any problem regarding offering Namaz at public places, he/she could inform the administration and the police. "It is the responsibility of the administration and police to maintain law and order and the state government is bound to maintain peace," he added.

PTI adds:

Hindutva organisations have been trying to stop Friday prayers in Gurgaon over the last two weeks alleging that some people were trying to grab land in a bid to merge it with a mosque. There were disruptions caused at Wazirabad, Atul Kataria Chowk, Cyber Park, Bakhtawar Chowk and at South City, the police said.

Namaz okay at public places if no one objects, says Khattar after Gurugram prayer disruptions

Tension had been simmering in Gurugram over the past few weeks with right wing supporters targeting Muslims, insisting that namaz should not be offered in public places.

INDIA Updated: May 06, 2018 22:19 IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar during a press conference in Gurugram.

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar during a press conference in Gurugram. (Sanjeev Verma/HT File Photo)

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said namaz should “ideally” be offered in mosques or at one’s home, reacting after right wing protesters allegedly disrupted prayers by Muslims in 10 public places in Gurgaon on Friday.

“There has been an increase in occurrence of namaz being offered at public places. It is fine till no one objects. But ideally namaz should be offered in the precincts of a religious place or at one’s home,” said Khattar in Chandigarh on Sunday before leaving for a ten-day visit to Israel and the United Kingdom.

Khattar said his government would maintain law and order, remarks in the wake of demands by Hindu groups who have said they will continue their protest if “unauthorised” prayers in public places isn’t stopped.

Security forces fanned out in Gurgaon on Friday after members of a group called ‘Hindu Sanyukt Sangarsh Samiti’ staged protests and claimed that Muslim worshippers did not have permission to offer prayers at roadsides, parks, and vacant government land in the city.

The Samiti comprises 12 Hindu groups, which include Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena, Hindu Jagran Manch and Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Kranti Dal.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi reacts to row over namaz in public spaces, says no tension should be allowed over prayer

Politics PTI May 07, 2018 16:00:53 IST

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New Delhi: Prayer promotes peace and no tension should be allowed in the name of worshipping God, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Monday after a minister in the Haryana government reportedly said namaz could not be offered anywhere in the open "with the intention of grabbing land".

The minority affairs minister also said the Haryana government was "very sensitive" towards the issue and that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar himself had clarified that his regime was not against offering prayers.

File image of Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. IBN liveFile image of Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. IBN live

Naqvi, however, added that if there was any complaint in this connection, the issue had to be settled amicably.

"Prayer promotes peace and not tension. Hence, no tension should be allowed in the name of prayer. According to provisions, prayers are to be performed at authorised places," he told reporters here.

"The state government is sensitive (towards the issue) and the chief minister has also clarified that they are not against offering prayers. But if anybody is complaining, it is better to settle the issue amicably," Naqvi added.

The Union minister said those offering namaz were aware of the rules in the Islam regarding where to offer prayers and hence, it was not right to fight over it.

To a question on the row over a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), he said the students and the administration of the institute should put an end to the "uncalled for controversy".

"Jinnah is not a role model for the country or its Muslims. Hence, this controversy has to be brought to an end and it should be ensured that the university's dignity is maintained," Naqvi added. According to media reports, Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij has said if someone needs to offer namaz, he has the religious freedom to do so, but one cannot offer namaz anywhere in the open with the intention of grabbing land. Vij's statement comes in the wake of Khattar's clarification that he did not speak about stopping anyone from offering prayers, after having said that namaz should be offered only in mosques and idgahs.

Prayer promotes peace, no trouble should be allowed over it: Naqvi

Amid row over namaz being offered in the open in Gurugram and right-wing groups disrupting them, Union minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the issue has to be settled amicably.

INDIA Updated: May 07, 2018 23:18 IST

Press Trust of India, New Delhi

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Haryana government is sensitive towards the prayer issue and CM Khattar had clarified that his government is not against offering prayers.

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Haryana government is sensitive towards the prayer issue and CM Khattar had clarified that his government is not against offering prayers.(PTI/File Photo)

Union minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said prayers promote peace and no tension should be allowed in the name of worshipping god.

Naqvi’s comments came a day after Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said namaz should “ideally” be offered in mosques or at one’s home. The comments were made after right-wing protesters allegedly disrupted prayers by Muslims in at least 10 public places in Gurugram.

Naqvi said the Haryana government is “very sensitive” towards the issue and CM Khattar had himself clarified that his regime is not against offering prayers.

“There has been an increase in occurrence of namaz being offered at public places. It is fine till no one objects. But ideally namaz should be offered in the precincts of a religious place or at one’s home,” Khattar said on Sunday.

On Monday, certain media reports quoted Haryana health minister Anil Vij as saying that if someone needs to offer namaz, he has the religious freedom to do so, but one cannot offer namaz anywhere in the open with the intention of grabbing land.

Naqvi, however, added that if there was any complaint in this connection, the issue had to be settled amicably.

“Prayer promotes peace and not tension. Hence, no tension should be allowed in the name of prayer. According to provisions, prayers are to be performed at authorised places,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

“The state government is sensitive (towards the issue) and the chief minister has also clarified that they are not against offering prayers. But if anybody is complaining, it is better to settle the issue amicably,” Naqvi added.

The Union minister said those offering namaz were aware of the rules in the Islam regarding where to offer prayers and hence, it was not right to fight over it.

To a question on the row over a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), he said the students and the administration of the institute should put an end to the “uncalled for controversy”.

“Jinnah is not a role model for the country or its Muslims. Hence, this controversy has to be brought to an end and it should be ensured that the university’s dignity is maintained,” Naqvi added.

Gurugram namaaz row: Prayers should be offered in mosques, not public spaces, says Haryana CM

There has been a considerable rise in the number of people offering namaaz in open spaces, Manohar Lal Khattar said.

Gurugram namaaz row: Prayers should be offered in mosques, not public spaces, says Haryana CM

IANS file photo

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday appeared to back Hindutva groups who have allegedly stopped Muslims in Gurugram from praying in open spaces in recent weeks. Khattar said namaaz should be offered in mosques and not public spaces.

“I believe namaaz should indeed be offered – but in mosques, at Eidgah, and other designated places,” Khattar said at a press conference, according to The Indian Express. “If there is not enough space for namaaz, then it should be offered at a personal place. These are not things that should be put on display in public places.”

There has been a considerable rise in the number of people offering namaaz in open spaces, Khattar said, according to ANI. “It is alright till no one objects [to people offering namaaz in public places],” he said. “But if there are objections from any department, then we have to be careful. We are keeping a watch on it. We are counselling people that namaaz should be offered at appropriate places, not at public places.”

On April 20, around 500 Muslim men had gathered for Friday prayers in a field owned by the Haryana government in Sector 53 of Gurugram. Several Hindu residents from neighbouring villages allegedly disrupted the prayers, and shouted “Jai Sri Ram”. A video of the incident had later surfaced on social media, following which six persons were arrested for hurting religious sentiments. They were later released on bail.

The villagers alleged that Muslims used the weekly prayers as an excuse to encroach on government land. On May 4 as well, Hindutva groups claimed they had stopped Muslims from praying in several open spaces.

Govt should provide places for namaz if it doesn’t want us to pray on roads: Muslim groups

SANYA DHINGRA      7 May, 2018

Groups also reiterate the demand to open up historical mosques for worship, while minorities commission chairperson says the row is ‘not a big issue’.

Gurugram/New Delhi: Recent disruptions of Friday prayers in Gurugram have escalated to a nationwide row, and Muslim groups and leaders have argued that nobody is addressing the moot problem — there are limited spaces for Muslims to offer namaz.

The controversy got a fresh lease of life after Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s statement Sunday that offering namaz should be restricted to mosques, eidgahs or “private places”. Although he later clarified that he had not said anything about stopping anyone from offering namaz, the damage had been done.

“There is no masjid in that area (of Gurugram). Where do these poor people go to offer namaz, which is an integral part of our religion?” Asaduddin Owaisi, the MP for Hyderabad and president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, told ThePrint. “This is plain majoritarian, Hindutva politics we are witnessing in all BJP-ruled states that is now stopping people from worshipping also.”

“His remarks just prove that Hindutva goons have state patronage,” said Qasim Rasool Ilias, member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). “Muslims barely congregate for half an hour in certain places, and that is suddenly such a big issue for the BJP government.”

He also asked for Muslims to be provided spaces for worship, saying people having a problem with Muslims praying was “in stark contrast to the Indian ethos”.

No land for namaaz

Responding to the row in the city, the Haryana Waqf Board Sunday submitted a list of 19 unused mosques/properties in Gurugram that could potentially be used for offering namaz. The sites have been lying unused either due to alleged opposition by locals or encroachments, the board submitted.

It is not just about Gurugram, however, argued Ilias. “In general, there is ‘encroachment’ of land meant for prayers for Muslims on the one hand, and cries for denying them public places on the other,” he said.

Muslim groups have repeatedly requested the Archaeological Survey of India to open up protected historical monuments in the capital and surrounding areas, said Ilias. “There are a number of mosques in Purana Qila, Red Fort, etc. where the ASI does not permit namaz. If you have a problem with us praying in public places, then why not allow us to pray in these masjids?”

This demand had also been raised by Wajahat Habibullah, former chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, in 2013. Habibullah reiterated his demand, saying: “These monuments were originally mosques. Why can people not be allowed to use them for namaz, even as the government continues to have ownership?” he asked.

“See the peculiar situation we are in. On one hand, the government does not allow use of mosques for prayers; on the other, Muslims are being attacked for offering prayers in public places.”

‘Not a big issue’

Even as Muslim leaders took strong exception to Khattar’s statement, and saw the incidents in Gurugram as a blatant threat to the freedom to follow the religion of one’s choice, Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi, the current chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, said he didn’t want to “blow up the matter”.

“We have got no complaint regarding the issue, and it is not such a big issue that we will take suo motu cognisance of the matter,” Rizvi, who rose from the Minority Morcha of the BJP, told ThePrint.

“The issue is not over namaz, but if someone raises an objection over namaz being offered on government land. Then, the government is fair in intervening.”