NEW DELHI: Namaz on the streets and other public places has emerged as a key political issue over the past few years. While one section opposes this and says religious customs should not be done in public places, others argue that one should not create an issue out of this unless such acts inconvenience anyone.
Meanwhile, a big statement of Union Minister Chirag Paswan has come out on issues like demand for meat ban in Navratri and ban on namaz on the road. Paswan said – this is meaningless. There is no need to discuss who will offer namaz where, whether meat shops will remain closed during Navratri or not.
These are useless things. He said – people try to create division in the society to bake their political bread. Political parties should not comment on any religion… Chirag said that if politicians stop interfering in the matter of religion, then 90 percent of the problems will be solved. This is the second time when Tirag Paswan has commented against the stand of the government and BJP. Earlier, Chirag Paswan had refrained from directly defending the government on the UGC draft regulation issued by UGC in January and said that “it is the privilege of the Parliament to discuss it.
” The UGC draft regulation, released on January 6, gives more power to the chancellor in the appointment of vice-chancellors in state universities. Governors, appointed by the Centre, are the ex-officio chancellors of state universities. Advertisement The draft regulation has also made eminent academicians eligible for the post of vice-chancellor apart from professionals from industry, public administration, public policy and research institutions, with an aim to promote innovation and collaboration between academia and other sectors.
He said- Dismissing the efforts being made against Muslims offering namaz on the streets, Union minister and BJP ally Chirag Paswan said these are “idle topics” and there are many other big issues in the country that need to be discussed. In a TV programme, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader was asked what he had to say on the opposition to offering namaz on the streets. He said, “This is useless talk. This should not be discussed at all, it is meaningless. There are many big issues in the country which we need to discuss.
The problem is that when we start talking about these irrelevant topics, an atmosphere of tension is created in the society and the country. A rift is created between communities and people without any reason. This is meaningless.” Mr Paswan said people have been offering namaaz on the streets for years. “If we were not talking about this, you would probably be asking what work I did as the food processing minister. But these things have become secondary now.” When told that people from his ally BJP are talking about this, the minister replied, “But I do not agree with this. This is what I am saying. I am an educated youth of the 21st century. We should not interfere in religious matters. This is a matter of personal faith. I gave an Iftar party and I went there wearing a Tilak. This is my faith.
He said- I will not forget my religious values ​​to respect your religion, but these are issues behind closed doors. This is a matter of personal faith. Some people follow a religion, some do not. Many Hindus do not have a Tilak on their head. Are they not Hindus? This is a personal faith. Why is an attempt being made to normalize this?”
Mr Paswan said “I am also talking about my allies. If you are saying that they are doing this, then I do not agree with this kind of politics. I believe that instead of talking about Hindus and Muslims, there are bigger things which need attention.” Offering namaaz on roads and other public places has emerged as a major political issue in the last few years. One section opposes it and says religious rituals should not be performed in public places, while others argue that the issue should not be blown out of proportion as long as such acts do not inconvenience anyone.
Recently, the issue hit the headlines when district administrations in parts of Uttar Pradesh took a tough stand against allowing namaaz on roads during Eid. This also comes in the backdrop of Muslim organisations opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill brought by the Centre. Amid the district administration’s push against offering namaaz on roads, BJP leader and MP Ravi Kishan told a news agency that Hindus and Muslims should celebrate their festivals without disturbing the public. “It is the responsibility of Hindus as well as Muslims to celebrate their festivals without disturbing the public. All scholars and maulanas say namaaz is accepted in the mosque. Who started this practice on roads?”

Senior Congress leader and former MP Husain Dalwai criticised the Uttar Pradesh government’s stance of allowing people to offer namaaz on roads and alleged that it reflects “inherent hatred” towards Muslims. “On Eid, Muslims traditionally go to mosques to offer namaaz, but due to limited space, many people offer namaaz on roads. I want to ask, are only Muslims offering namaaz on roads? During the Maha Kumbh Mela, roads were completely blocked due to the huge gathering of people,” he said. “The way Muslims are being targeted is unjustified and reflects deep hatred,” he added.

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