Patna: A controversy is brewing in Bihar, where the mayor of Darbhanga town has suggested a two-hour break during Holi celebrations to accommodate Friday namaaz prayers during Ramzan.
Anjum Ara, Mayor of Darbhanga, put forth the proposal at a recent meeting of the town's peace committee.
Later, while interacting with reporters, she said, "My plea was that the time of 'jumma namaaz' cannot be deferred. So, let there be a two-hour break, from noon to 2 pm, during which Hindus shall avoid places in the vicinity of mosques." "This would enable people from both faiths to carry out their respective practices without any hassles. We understand that Holi comes only once in a year. But we also need to keep in mind that for Muslims, it is the holy month of Ramzan," the mayor added.
BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur Bachaul from Madhubani district slammed Anjum Ara's proposal, having recently sparked controversy himself by suggesting Muslims should "stay indoors" during Holi celebrations if they objected.
Talking to reporters on the state assembly premises, he said, "Where are the self-proclaimed secularists who were attacking me? The mayor of Darbhanga has virtually called for 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' to convert India into an Islamic caliphate." He also warned of a "pratikaar (retaliation) against those who first partitioned the country and are now intruding into the social life of Hindus."
He also demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged shady record of Anjum Ara and her family, citing their reported ties to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) party.
However, senior JD(U) leader and minister Shravan Kumar said, "The administration is not supposed to tell the people when and how to celebrate a festival. These decisions are best left to the society, and the administration must always concentrate on maintaining the rule of law." He also disapproved of the remarks by Bachaul, saying, "Elected representatives must never use a language that hurts a section of the society."
RJD MLA Bhai Virendra defended the mayor's proposal, saying it was a necessary response to politicians like Bachaul, who seek to undermine Bihar's tradition of communal harmony, or "Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb."
(inputs from PTI)