namaz in the mosque
Raipur: The Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board has asked the Mutawallis (caretakers) of all the mosques to inform the Board about the speech to be given before Namaz in the mosques every Friday afternoon and obtain its consent. Dr Salim Raj, chairman of the Chhattisgarh state Waqf board, said on Monday: “We will not allow mosques to become dens of politics. “These are religious places and they should remain religious places.” However, the move has been heavily criticized by the opposition Congress in the BJP-ruled state. The party said the board’s direction is beyond its jurisdiction and is unconstitutional and an attack on the freedom of religion and expression of mutawallis and namazis. Raj said a “WhatsApp group” of Mutawallis of mosques in Chhattisgarh is being formed.
“Measures will be taken against those who make absurd statements”
He said that any speech made in the mosque before Friday prayers must first be reported to the Waqf Board and only after receiving approval, this speech should be made in the mosques. He said: “It is unfortunate that from there a fatwa is issued that one has to vote for this, one has to vote for that.” I have seen some videos in which some Mutawalli use words like rule of tyrants. Should Mutawalli make such statements from mosques? These statements disturb social harmony.” Raj said, “In view of this, a ‘WhatsApp group’ of all Mutawalli has been formed. There are around 3842 people, of which 1822 have registered so far. If he makes any absurd statement, immediate action will be taken against him.”
This request was made to the imams of the mosques.
He asked the imams of the mosques to deliver religious and Quran-related speeches and not to make any statements that could disturb social harmony. Raj said, “Look at the story.” There were incidents of stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir after every Friday prayers. After Friday prayers a procession was held. “Our people and the people of our community are deceived.” The Chhattisgarh Waqf Board chief said he calls this (BJP) government cruel, while working on ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas’. Raj said, “Congress should not make mosques a political base for the sake of vote bank.” The Congress, the main opposition party in the state, has sought a response from the government regarding Raj’s statement.
Congress strongly criticized
Sushil Anand Shukla, head of communication department of the state Congress Committee, said: “The directions given by Salim Raj are unconstitutional. He has issued this direction going beyond his jurisdiction. The job of the Waqf Board is to take care of the properties of the Waqf and not approving what the Mutawalli say in the mosque.” Shukla has said: “This is an attack on the religious freedom of the mutawallis and the followers who go to the mosques and their freedom of expression.” issue this instruction? Should the Chief Minister and the BJP government respond” (With linguistic inputs)
