Barelvis demand restoration of Islamic holidays
One of the largest sects of Muslims, Barelvis, registered a protest against the state government’s move of scrapping 15 public holidays including Islamic ones. Barelvis said, scrapping of holidays that includes Milad un-Nabi (Prophet Mohammad’s birthday), Alvida– the last Friday of the month of Ramzan before Eid, Urs-e-Khwaja has hurt religious sentiments of people belonging to the Muslim community. They demanded restoration of these holidays.
Barelvi’s reaction came almost a week after chief minister Yogi Adityanath scrapped 15 public holidays and had expressed concern over shrinking academic session due to increased holidays.
On Thursday, the delegation comprising Maulana Asjad Raza Kadri, Shehar Kazi Bareilly, Salman Hasan Qadri, vice president Jamat Raza-eMustafa, Mufti Shakeel Bareilvi, moulana Shahzad Alam and others met Bareilly DM and handed over a memorandum demanding restoration of the Islamic holidays.
The delegation also called it a one-sided decision, saying holidays like Ram Navmi, Mahavir Jayanti, Guru Nanak Jayanti and Christmas were not scrapped.
“The state government’s decision has once again revealed the step motherly treatment towards people of our community,” said Nasir Qureshi, convener Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat, Bareilly.
Qureshi said, the decision is also in contrast to BJP’s own slogan—’Sabka saath sabka vikaas.’