Uttarakhand: Namaz not offered collectively in Purola, Uttarkashi, had to go 30 KM away for worship
Under the alleged pressure of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in communally sensitive Purola town of Uttarakhand’s Uttarakhand, Muslim community on Thursday gathered at a public place on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. But did not gather to offer Namaz. The Muslims living in Purola collectively went to Sandra or Vikasnagar, about 30 km away from there, to offer Namaz. On this, the Muslim organizations of Dehradun reacted sharply and said that such a thing is against the secular spirit of the Indian Constitution.
Describing it as a failure of the administration, the organizations claimed that such things cannot happen without political patronage. Naeem Ahmed, president of Muslim Seva Sangathan, an organization fighting for the rights of Muslims in Uttarakhand, said in Dehradun, “If there was no Idgah in Purola, people should have been allowed to gather in mosques and offer prayers. Not allowing them to assemble anywhere confirms that Muslims will continue to be treated as second class citizens in this secular and culturally diverse country. It is a failure of the administration. Such things happen without political patronage to separatist forces. Can’t be.”
Many people offered Namaz in Uttarkashi
Ashraf, who has been running a clothes shop in Purola for the last 35 years, said that none of the 53 gram sabhas of Purola block ever pointed a finger at him, but today he is being asked to offer Namaz inside the house behind closed doors. He told that on Wednesday, a day before Bakrid, his father Wale Khan, his son Muhammad and he himself went to Sandra and offered group prayers with the Gujjars. Some other people went from Purola to Vikasnagar and Uttarkashi to offer Bakrid Namaz, where they collectively offered Namaz.
What did the police say about the Bakrid prayer?
Purola police station chief Ashok Chakraborty said the police had held a meeting with all parties to ensure peace and harmony on Eid-ul-Azha, but it was the Muslims’ own decision not to hold any public gathering for prayers. On the other hand, VHP’s Purola’s working president Virendra Rawat said that he had never refused to offer Namaz but had only said that minority people should not gather in public places and offer collective Namaz. He said, “It has never been his intention to hurt anyone’s sentiments. Can anyone ever be prevented from praying privately in his home?
What is the whole matter?
It may be noted that on 26th of last month, communal tension had arisen in Purola town after two persons, including a youth from the minority community, attempted to abduct a girl. The next day both men were arrested. A tense situation prevailed in Purola for several days over the incident, which was termed as ‘love jihad’ by Hindu organizations like VHP and Bajrang Dal. Section 144 had to be imposed in the town to prevent the organization of ‘Mahapanchayat’ by right-wing Hindu organisations. During this, many Muslim shopkeepers closed their shops and went away, which reopened after a long time.
