New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has hit out at Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's open statement on Namaz. He said that if this ban had been on every religion, it would have been fine, but the policy of choosing and sorting shows that a particular religion is on target. He said Jammu and Kashmir will not join this India.
What did CM Khattar say?
In Gurugram, Haryana, there has been a protest against Jumma Namaz in open for weeks. Meanwhile, yesterday CM Manohar Lal Khattar said that the reading Namaz in the open will not be tolerated. CM Khattar said the earlier decision of the district administration to reserve some places for Namaz at open places has been withdrawn and the state government will now find an amicable solution to the issue.
Responding to a question on the objections raised by several right winger organizations on offering Namaz in open places in Gurugram, the chief minister said in Gurugram "Reading Namaz in the open in Gurugram will not be tolerated... But we will find a cordial solution.''
Khattar said, "Everyone should get the facility (to pray) but no one should violate the rights of others, It will not be allowed." On withdrawing the district administration's decision to fix some places for Namaz on open places, he said, "We have asked the police and deputy commissioner to resolve the issue... If someone reads Namaz, recites on someone's place, we do not have any problem with this.''
"Religious places are built for the purpose of people go there and offer prayers," he said. Such programmes should not be in the open.'' Khattar said,
"Clashes should be avoided by reading Namaz on open places, We will also not allow clashes (between the two sides).' In the last few months, members of some Hindu organizations gather on places where Muslim Community people reads Namaz on open places and chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram. However, for the past few weeks, Namaz have been held at places allowed under police protection," he said
Omar Abullah Retort
"The Haryana CM's statement and his decision is totally wrong," Abdullah told reporters after a party function in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
"I would have accepted it had this ban been on every religion, but by this pick and choose, it is clear that the target is one particular religion which is not allowed by the Constitution of this country,” he added.