Hindutva outfits demands ban on ‘namaz’ in Gurugram’s open spaces

GURUGRAM: Various right-wing organisations under the banner of ‘Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti’ (joint Hindu conflict committee) came out on the streets on Monday demanding ban on offering ‘namaz’ in grounds without permission.

On April 20, a group of men allegedly disrupted the Muslim prayers ‘namaz’ at the Sector 53 in Wazirabad village with chants of “Jai Sri Ram” and “Radhey Radhey”.

A video of the incident had gone viral and six youths were arrested after an FIR was filed against Arun, Manish, Deepak, Mohit, Ravinder and Monu on charges of hurting religious feelings, disturbing religious worship, and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code in this connection.

YouTube video

Though all the six accused were granted bail on Sunday on technical grounds, the Samiti demanded the cancellation of an FIR registered against them.

Mahavir Bhardwaj, who led the protest told the gathering, “We are not against any religion or the right to pray. There are designated places for everything. Using open grounds and areas for a gathering of hundreds of people every week without permission is illegal and an attempt to encroach on vacant places. Without permission, no prayer meetings should be allowed.”

He also emphasised the need to identify if they are “locals or illegal migrants from Bangladesh, or Rohingya refugees among the Muslims”.

Ajay Singhal, president of Sanskritik Gaurav Samiti, “The government should impose a blanket ban on the prayer meetings on open land,” reported Time Of India.

About 500 members of the Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Kranti Dal, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Hindu Sena and Gurugram Sanskritik Gaurav Samiti handed over a memorandum of demands to the Deputy Commissioner.

“Rohingyas and Bangladeshis residing in Gurgaon should also be identified and marked. Permission should not be given to read namaz in Hindu colonies, sectors and neighbourhoods. Permission should only be given in those places where the strength of this population is more than 50 per cent, otherwise there will continue to be a possibility of peace being obstructed.”