However, Muslims who offered namaz (or daily prayers) peacefully in Gurgaon’s 12-A district once again faced hordes of protesters — many of which were reportedly from right-wing groups — chanting anti-prayer slogans. Holding a placard that read “Gurgaon Government, From Your Sleep”. A large number of police were dispatched and about 30 protesters were detained.
After fierce protests broke out in Districts 12-A and 47 earlier this month, the police acted quickly today to ensure that interference is minimized. The footage from today’s incident shows a small group of people (almost no one wearing masks) walking around holding cardboard signs, shouting “Band Carlo, Band Carlo” or “Stop it, stop it”. Another video shows that several men were taken away by the police; in this video, a large number of policemen in uniforms can be seen, and police roadblocks have been set up around them. Among those who challenged Namaz last week was a local lawyer-Kulbhushan Bharadwaj-who could be seen arguing with the police.
Former BJP leader Bharadwaj representing Jamia Millia shooter was arrested by Gurgaon police on suspicion of making a public speech. The same tense scene occurred in District 47 (a more urbanized area) the previous week, where namaz provided outdoor activities on government-owned land (land reserved for prayer for the Muslim community), triggering demands Stop the request or move indoors. Residents of District 47 claimed that “pranksters” or “Rohingya refugees” committed crimes in the area under the pretext of prayer.
In the past few weeks, they shouted “Jai Shri Ram” and held up placards that read “Stop namaz in open spaces” or “Provide namaz in mosques.” In both incidents, the crowd dispersed only after the police provided “guarantees” about the dispute over where Muslims can pray. District 47 and District 12-A are both on the list of 37 locations determined by the Gurgaon government, where Muslims can “allow” prayer. These were chosen after a meeting between Hindus and Muslims following similar incidents in 2018.
Soon after the protests ended last week, Federal Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar-Junior Minister of Social Justice stated that people must be allowed to pray if these places are actually designated for such purposes. Earlier this month, the Chief Minister of Haryana, ML Khattar, who spoke after the protests in District 47, stated that everyone has the right to pray, but “prayer should not block road traffic.”
News Source : NDTV
