Ruchi Veera, Moradabad MP, defended the practice of offering namaz on streets by drawing parallels with Hindu customs during the month of Sawan
Team Clarion
MORADABAD – In a move which has sparked significant discussion, Nagina MP Chandrasekhar Azad Ravan has voiced support for offering prayers on streets, a stance echoed by Moradabad MP Ruchi Veera. The statements come amidst heightened religious activities in Uttar Pradesh.
Ravan is also chief of the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) and Ruchi Veera is a Samajwadi Party member of the Lok Sabha.
The Moradabad MP defended the practice of offering namaz on streets by drawing parallels with Hindu customs during the month of Sawan (from July 22 to August 19). “If Muslims can keep their shops closed during Sawan, why is there any objection to allowing prayers for 20 minutes?” Veera asked. She further added: “When slogans of ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra’ can be raised in Parliament, then why object to saying ‘Long Live Palestine’?”
This dialogue comes in the wake of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directives for preparations for the Kanwar Yatra. Addressing this, MP Ravan remarked: “If the Kanwar Yatra can take place, why can’t prayers be offered on the road for 20 minutes?” Veera supported this sentiment, advocating for mutual respect. “Here we have a Ganga-Jamuni culture; we should respect each other’s religions. If Muslims close their shops during Sawan, what’s wrong with allowing them to pray for 20 minutes? It’s a prayer, an act of worship; no one should object.”
Commenting on the controversy generated by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi by raising the slogan “Jai Palestine” in Parliament, Ruchi Veera said “The whole world is criticising what’s happening in Palestine. Our sympathies are with them. If Owaisi said ‘Palestine Zindabad,’ what’s the big deal? We also say ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra.'”
Further adding to the debate, Veera responded to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s remarks calling Ayodhya MP Odheesh the king of Ayodhya. “It was a significant statement against the BJP, which sought votes in the name of Ram Mandir. Odheesh also means Shri Ram, a king who cannot be conquered,” Veera noted.
The statements by MPs Ravan and Veera underscore the ongoing tensions and discussions around religious tolerance and practices in the country. Their support for roadside prayers highlights the broader issue of balancing religious freedoms with public order, an issue that continues to resonate deeply in the country’s socio-political landscape.
