In Yogi’s Uttar Pradesh, no laws apply to Hindus, but to Muslims
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Screengrab from video online.
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Police have registered an FIR against Samajwadi Party district vice-president Haji Mohammad Usman after a video showed him offering namaz on the road at the Circuit House in Moradabad, triggering questions over action against a Muslim politician for a brief prayer, according to The Wire report.
The action against a Muslim politician is in contrast to the impunity enjoyed by those who partook in the Kanwar Yatra, who blocked roads, vandalised vehicles and establishments and displayed vulgar gestures as seen in several circulated videos. No FIRs have been registered so far against Kanwar Yatra participants who were seen obstructing vehicles and blocking roads, despite laws restricting such activities. Yet the Uttar Pradesh police did not hesitate to file FIRs against people for offering a peaceful prayer.
The FIR invokes Sections 285 and 292 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, concerning obstruction of a public way and public nuisance. However, the video cited in the complaint appears to show Usman praying behind his parked car, with no visible person being obstructed and other vehicles also stationary.
The case followed a complaint by Anit Kumar, an assistant engineer with the Moradabad provincial division of the Public Works Department. Kumar alleged that Usman had parked on the route used to enter and exit the Circuit House, affecting the movement of people and vehicles.
Usman, uncle of Bilari MLA Mohammad Faheem Irfan, had visited the Circuit House to attend a meeting between Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition Lal Bihari Yadav and Samajwadi Party leaders.
The FIR was filed after local Hindutva groups protested against the video. Rohan Saxena, state president of the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, questioned how prayers were allowed at government premises.
The action has drawn scrutiny over what critics see as selective enforcement. It has been contrasted with the Kanwar Yatra, during which roads were blocked, and vehicles and establishments were allegedly vandalised, while circulated videos also showed participants making vulgar gestures.
The contrasting treatment has raised questions over whether peaceful prayer is being pursued as a public-order offence while disruptive conduct during religious processions faces less stringent action.