Namaaz should not be a show of strength: Manohar Lal Khattar on prayer row in Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Following weeks of tension between Hindu-Muslim groups in Gurgaon over offering namaz prayers by Muslims in public spaces, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told media in New Delhi on Thursday that the government was facilitating dialogue between the two groups but that namaz should not be a public "show of strength."

"The administration is working out where namaz should be offered. Namaz should be restricted to namaz. It should not be made into a show of strength. Offering prayers or namaz is an issue that is private and religious. It can be done at home, mosque or Eidgah. If they want to do it in the open, it should be done with the administration's permission. This applies to everyone, be it Sikh, Hindu, Christian or Muslim," the Chief Minister was quoted as saying during the interaction with the Indian Women's Press Corps.

He condemned the alleged attack on Christmas celebrations held at a private school in Pataudi as "unfortunate".

"There is no reason to support such incidents. It is not right to interrupt any such function," he elaborated. "...People should sit together and discuss. There are peace committees for this very reason. Such incidents have happened in the past as well but we should ensure they do not take place in the future."

Earlier, the Haryana CM had told media that the practice of offering namaz in the open "will not be tolerated", but also added that an "amicable solution" would be found and the issue needed to be resolved. The government has been attempting to negotiate with right-wing activists and the Muslim community in Gurgaon over the issue.

On December 18, it was reported that a viral video showed people gathered for namaz prayer at Udyog Vihar in Gurugram being forced to chant slogans such as "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Hindustan Zindabad".

The National Commission for Minorities has already taken cognisance over the namaz feud and has demanded an explanation from the Haryana government in this regard, following several other vitriolic attacks on Muslims in other parts of the country, including hate speeches made at Hindi conclaves in Haridwar and Raipur.

Atif Rasheed, Vice-Chairman of the Commission, has been requested to visit Gurgaon to speak to the people of the two communities engaged in the tussle over offering Namaz in open space, the NCM said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Gurgaon Muslim Council headed by a former MP Mohammed Adeeb has approached the Supreme Court to demand those contempt proceedings against concerned officials of the Haryana government for their alleged failure to stop the disruption of Friday Namaz.