Protest against arrest of six for disrupting prayers on vacant plot

GURUGRAM: Members of Hindu organisations on Monday protested the arrest of six men for allegedly disrupting Friday prayers on April 20 at Wazirabad. The protesters said prayers should be offered only at designated sites.

The gathering under the aegis of Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti, Gurugram, said the case registered against the six men should be cancelled and submitted a memorandum to the district administration.

Raising slogans and carrying placards, members of ABVP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and other organisations alleged that the purpose of offering namaz at public spaces was to encroach the land and claim its ownership.

The protesters said the government should prevent Friday prayers at open spaces, parks and other public places. “We are not against Muslims but the administration must ensure religious activities take place inside designated places. The only purpose of offering prayers at vacant land is encroachment,” said Kulbhushan Bhardwaj, a BJP leader and executive member of the Samiti.

Chairman of Nehru Yuva Sangathan, Haji Shehzad Khan, on whose complaint the six men were arrested, said there was paucity of space in the city due to which Muslims were forced to offer namaz in the open. “There is no instance of us encroaching even a square yard of land. We do not cause trouble to anyone. The allegations against us are baseless,” he said.

Villagers from Wazirabad participated in the protest and marched to the mini-secretariat. “The decision to arrest the six youth is nothing but appeasement,” said Sube Singh Bohra, former sarpanch, Wazirabad.