Offering 'Namaz' In Open Spaces Will Not Be Tolerated In Gurgaon: CM Manohar Lal Khattar

Gurugram Namaz Issue: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said Namaz in open will not be tolerated at all.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said police and the Deputy Commissioner were told to resolve the issue (File)

Gurgaon: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Friday that the practice of offering 'namaz' in the open "will not be tolerated". 

Manohar Lal Khattar's remarks come after several Hindu outfits objected to Friday prayers being offered in open spaces in Gurgaon's Sector 37.

 

Namaz in open spaces won't be allowed in Gurugram : CM @mlkhattar Ji. pic.twitter.com/rLW5JURxGG

— Haryana Fights Corona (@JanAashirwad) December 10, 2021

Khattar also said the district administration's decision to reserve some spots for holding prayers in open spaces had been withdrawn. The state government will now work out an amicable solution to the issue, Khattar said.

"The practice of offering namaz here (Gurgaon) in open spaces will not be tolerated...But we all will sit to find an amicable solution," the chief minister told reporters.

"Everyone should get the facility (to offer prayers), but nobody should infringe on others' rights. It will not be allowed," Khattar said.

Khattar said police and the Deputy Commissioner were told to resolve the issue.

"If somebody offers namaz, holds paaths at one's place we have no objection to that. Religious places are built for this very purpose that people go there and offer prayers. Such programmes should not be held in open spaces," the Haryana CM said.

Over the past few months, members of some Hindu outfits have been gathering at namaz sites and raising "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Jai Shri Ram" slogans. 

On Friday, a similar incident happened at Sector 37. A Hindu outfit announced that a bhandara would be organised at the site next Friday.

"What is our fault? Humanity is dead. The district administration in Gurugram has allowed namaz at 19 places. But the opposition to namaz in open continues," the Muslim community said.

Three years ago, the district administration had designated 37 sites in Gurgaon for Muslims to offer Friday prayers after which there were protests by some Hindu groups.