Asaduddin Owaisi lashes out at UP govt over Noida police Namaz ban in public places

Owaisi alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Police would shower petals on kanwariyas, but would tell the Muslims that whatever they did, 'it was their mistake'.

Asaduddin owaisi (File image/ Owaisi)

New Delhi: All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday lashed out at the Uttar Pradesh government over the state police's notice ordering corporate offices and establishments to ensure that their Muslim employees stopped offering Friday prayers in open areas such as parks in Noida. Owaisi alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Police would shower petals on kanwariyas, but would tell the Muslims that whatever they did, 'it was their mistake'. "UP Cops literally showered petals for Kanwariyas, but namaz once a week can mean disrupting peace & harmony. This is telling Muslims: aap kuch bhi karlo, ghalti to aapki hi hogi. Also, by law, how does one hold an MNC liable for what their employees do in an individual capacity?" Owaisi said in a tweet. According to the notice issued by the police stations in Noida, including at the Sector 58 industrial hub, companies will be held liable if their employees are found violating the directive. According to a notice issued last week by police stations in Noida, including at the Sector 58 industrial hub, companies will be held liable if their employees are found violating the directive. The companies in the Sector 58 industrial hub had sought a meeting with the top Noida Police officers for a better understanding of the order, particularly on the clause that threatens to hold them liable for violations of the order by employees. A police station in Noida issued notices to 23 private companies asking them to stop their Muslim employees from offering prayers in a local park. Sector 58 Station House Officer (SHO) Pankaj Rai, who issued the notices, cited a Supreme Court order of 2009, which banned unauthorised use of public places for religious activities by all religions. On Tuesday, a police station in Noida issued notices to 23 private companies asking them to stop their Muslim employees from offering prayers in a local park. Sector 58 Station House Officer (SHO) Pankaj Rai, who issued the notices, cited a Supreme Court order of 2009, which banned unauthorised use of public places for religious activities by all religions. "It is often seen that Muslim employees of your companies gather in large number in the park despite being advised against doing so and despite the city magistrate denying their request for permission to use it for offering namaaz. Therefore it is expected of you to inform your Muslim employees at your level and if they still assemble at the park, then it would be considered that you have not informed them and held as the responsibility of the individual company," the notices said.