Noida namaz dictate: Opposition calls it 'arbitrary'', BJP says issue being politicised

Noida administration's dictate asking private firms to stop their Muslim employees from offering Friday prayers at a local park snowballed into a major controversy on Wednesday with BSP terming it "arbitrary" and the BJP asserting that the issue is being politicised on communal lines.

The BJP also defended the order saying the primary duty of police of any place is to maintain communal harmony so that there is no law and order issue.

The Station House Officer (SHO) of Noida's Sector 58 Police Station Pankaj Rai had earlier this month sent notices to 23 private firms asking them to stop their Muslim employees from offering Friday prayers at a local park citing a 2009 Supreme Court order which prohibits religious gatherings at public places.

The Noida administration also on Tuesday said that "unauthorised" religious gatherings will not be allowed at public places.

"The order regarding prior approval for offering Friday namaz at public parks and warning of strict action on firms whose employees are found flouting is improper and arbitrary," the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said in a release.

"If the Yogi Adityanath government in the state has any such policy of banning religious activities at public places, why is it not being implemented on people belonging to all religions and in all the districts of the state without any discrimination," she added.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister claimed that prayers were being offered in the park since 2013 and questioned the logic behind banning them ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

"It is most natural that questions will be raised on the BJP government's policy and intentions as elections approach," she said.

"This also strengthens the doubt that the BJP regime wants to divert attention from its failures and shortcomings by creating such religious controversies," she added.

It only highlights the frustration of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders following their defeat in the recent Assembly elections, she said.

BJP leader Giriraj Singh said, "Jo kanoon aade aa jaye, use dharam se jod dete hai (whenever law becomes a hurdle, it is linked to a religion). Is it necessary to encroach a park to offer namaz? One can do so in their houses or in a mosque..."