In a first, 10,000 Kerala mosques hoist tricolor on R-day

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For the first time, almost 10,000 mosques across the Kerala state hoisted the national flag on Republic Day on Sunday.

All the mosques observed Sunday as ‘Constitution Protection Day,’ as per the direction of the State Wakf Board. 

“The national flag was unfurled at around 10,000 mosques across the state on this auspicious occasion as per the instruction of the Waqf Board,” Secretary of the Kuttiady Juma Masjid Committee, K Basheer quoted ANI as saying. 

The mosques premises were also decorated with saffron, white and green festoons and the Preamble of the Constitution was readout in solidarity.

The Kerala State Wakf Board, in a circular to all bodies that come under it, including mosques, said the country is passing through difficult times ever since the Centre decided to go ahead with the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and they just cannot remain aloof, so all mosques should hoist the Indian flag and read the preamble to the Constitution.

Likewise, Kerala Latin Catholic Church read out a pastoral letter (a letter addressed by a bishop tr in all their churches in the state which said that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was not just an issue for Muslims, but for all and that it will destroy the secular character of India.

After the mass, the tricolor was hoisted and the preamble of the Constitution was read out along with an oath to protect the Constitution.