Noida Namaz Row: Stop RSS shakhas in parks without permission, Cong writes to UP DGP

In his letter, Sampurnananda, chairperson of the Congress’ Vichar department, said RSS has been organising shakhas in parks without permission from administration, so the organisation should be stopped from doing so.

Muslim devotees offer prayers. Photo: Representational (AFP)

Noida: The Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress on Friday penned down a letter to the state's Director General of Police (DGP) to stop Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang (RSS) shakhas in parks. The letter has been written in context to Noida Police's recent order which directs private firms in Sector 58 of the town to stop their employees from gathering at a local park to offer namaz. In his letter, Sampurnananda, chairperson of the Congress’ Vichar department, said RSS has been organising shakhas in parks without permission from administration, so the organisation should be stopped from doing so. "What happened in Noida is a serious issue and I decided to write to UP DGP after consultation with Congress state president Raj Babbar. I informed him that the UP Police have instructed institutions to stop their employees from offering namaz inside or outside a public park citing a 2009 Supreme Court ruling. Shakhas of the Sangh (RSS) are being organised without permission too. Instead of making any religion-specific instructions, the police should ensure that no religious or political activity takes place at any public place or institution without permission," Sampurnananda said in his letter. “Is tarah ki gatividhion mein turant viram lagaya jaye jisse pradesh aane wale samay mein kisi samajik vidvesh ki durghatnaon se bach sake (such activities should be immediately stopped so that the state can be saved from any untoward incident in future)," the leader said.