New Delhi: National Conference Vice President and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that the electricity is being curtailed during Sehri and Iftar hours to hassle the Muslim population observing the holy month of Ramadan.
Talking to reporters after a conference of National Conference youth wing workers from South Kashmir, Omar said that Jammu and Kashmir is going through the most severe power crisis ever. He said that today power cuts are happening in the entire state for 12-15 hours. This holy month of Ramadan is going on and hardly people have ever fulfilled their religious duties during Sehri and Iftar.
"Curtailment of electricity at Sehri & Iftar hours is being deliberately done to hassle us. Are you playing with our sentiments? If your intention is not to play with our sentiments, then give power during Sehri & Iftar hours & cut it at other hours of the day," news agency ANI quoted Abdullah as saying.
Omar also weighed in on the loudspeaker row saying, "Why can't loudspeakers be allowed at mosques when they're being used in other places? We're being told that halal meat shouldn't be sold. Why? We aren't saying mics shouldn't be installed at temples, gurudwaras. You don't like only all that we do."
He also added that the government should not interfere and people should have the freedom to follow their religion the way they want as India is a secular country.
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"We are a secular country. People should have the freedom to follow their religion the way they want. No government should interfere in how people follow their religion," he said.
Amid the soaring heat on the plains of the region, the power crisis has deepened in Jammu for the past two weeks and people have been forced to face the brunt of about 12-14 hours of unscheduled power cuts.