Police ensure peace during Friday namaz
GURUGRAM: Namaz was offered peacefully for the first time in several months despite attempts by vigilantes to disrupt prayers at some places in Gurugram, which has been at the centre of a bitter conflict over Friday prayers offered in the open
Muslim groups, however, congregated at only six public places that were jointly identified by Hindu right-wing groups and the Imam Council of Gurgaon. A group of people did try to disrupt the namaz congregation near Shankar Chowk, Udyog Vihar, and Tau Devi Lal Park in Sector 22, but was turned away by police.
Police also detained some rightwing group members, who were let go after the situation was under control. Rajiv Yadav, assistant commissioner of police, said that they controlled the situation, did not let anyone create any ruckus, and that namaz was offered peacefully.
Hindu right-wing groups have been protesting against Friday namaz in public spaces in Gurugram for the last three years. In 2018, the administration designated 37 sites for Muslims to perform the Friday prayers.
However, last month, the number of sites was cut down to 20 after members of the right-wing groups and locals continued to protest and disrupt prayers. Muslims, however, have maintained that they were forced to use public spaces since there were not enough number of mosques in the city. On December 10, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar had said offering namaz at public places cannot be tolerated, even as the district administration withdrew permission for Friday namaz at 20 designated sites.
Meanwhile, a group led by Kulbhushan Bhardwaj, legal advisor to Sanyukt Hindu Sangarsh Samiti, an umbrella organisation of Hindu bodies leading the protests against namaz in open spaces, filed two complaints at the Sector 29 and Udyog Vihar police stations demanding a complete ban on Friday prayers in the open.
Unlike the past two weeks, when Muslims gathered at multiple designated places (which were later withdrawn by the Haryana government) to offer prayers, this Friday they come together at only six places -- two spots in Udyog Vihar, Sector 42-Golf Course Road, Sector 40, Sector 69, and Sector 29.
A small group of Muslims gathered in the morning in an open area at Sector 40, but was asked to return by the police.
Some Muslim groups claimed that the land belongs to them, but failed to produce papers to prove that, even as some locals contended that the land was reserved for the construction of a school.