NEW DELHI – Amid rising Islamophobia in second-most populous country, thechief minister of a major state barred Muslims from a religious obligationsaying ‘Namaz in open spaces will not be tolerated’.
Haryana chief minister ML Khattar, who belongs to India’s fascist rulingparty BJP, exposed India’s intolerant side saying Muslims should only prayat designated places or in their homes.
The right-wing Hindu leader restricted Muslims to pray in open weeks afterthe state revoked permission to offer Friday congregational prayers ateight of the 37 public grounds in Gurugram.
He also added that the provincial administration would work out an amicablesolution that doesn’t encroach on anyone’s rights.
“We don’t have problems with anyone praying at places of worship. Thoseplaces have been built for this purpose,” Indian media quoted BJP leader assaying. “But these should not be done in the open. We won’t tolerate thecustom of offering Namaz in the open,” he opined.
Indian media outlets, that are said to be puppets of Indian extremist PM,relate prayers offered by Muslims in the open on government-owned tovociferous protests by right-wing groups.
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On Thursday, Muslim groups in the Indian state had reiterated theirobstinacy to offer namaz on Friday at all 37 objected public grounds whichhave been occupied to offer prayers.
On the other side, Hindu groups even issued an ultimatum to theauthorities, saying they would stop Muslim prayers themselves if theofficials fail to do so.
Meanwhile, Muslim residents claim there are no mosques in many of the areaswhere they can offer Friday prayer.
