Amarinder flays Khattar over namaz remark

Khattar had said that namaz should ideally be offered in mosques or at home

CHANDIGARH: Taking a strong exception to his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar’s remark in which he advised members of the Muslim community to offer namaz only in mosques or at one’s home, Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seemed to be trying to polarise communities in the country to garner votes.

“India is a republic governed by the Constitution. Neither Khattar, nor anyone else, has the right to dictate people on where they should hold prayers,” Amarinder said in response to a question during a press briefing.

Khattar on Sunday had said that namaz should ideally be offered in mosques or at one’s home responding to right-wing protesters allegedly disrupting

PUNJAB CM SAYS BJP TRYING TO POLARISE COMMUNITIES TO GARNER VOTES

prayers by Muslims in 10 public places on Friday.

On the Supreme Court’s decision to transfer the Kathua rapemurder case to Pathankot, Amarinder said his government will ensure full security for the victim’s family, their lawyer and others during the trial.

To a question on his government’s affidavit in the Supreme Court in the case against local government minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Amarinder reiterated that cannot backtrack from the stand it has taken earlier in the Punjab and Haryana high court. He said he hoped that the court will take into account Sidhu’s contribution to the country while deciding the case.