Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The police in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi are probing a case after a video of two Muslims offering namaz at Guru Gorakhnath Railway Station went viral.
The video shows a bearded man offering namaz behind a car outside the railway station. The police moved to investigate the matter after local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders raised objections to the namaz demanding action.
According to reports, the BJP leaders claimed that the namaz in the open disturbs communal harmony.
Police on Tuesday said they were investigating the matter of ‘namaz’ being offered at the gate of Guru Gorakhnath Railway Station after a purported video surfaced online. The SHO of Jayas police station, Ravi Singh, said he was aware of the matter and an investigation is underway.
According to the police, the alleged incident took place on Monday evening. Action will be taken against the guilty as per rules, he said.
The police have identified the two men who offered the namaz and interrogating them.
The police in the BJP-ruled station often take quick action against Muslims for just offering namaz in any corner of the state. These actions are taken under the pressure of Hindutva leaders and organisations. Some of the worshippers were also arrested for offering the namaz in the open. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has declared a no-holds-barred war against these prayers.
However, these actions have often been criticised by activists saying that the act of offering prayers does not violate any law. Besides, they contend that the government takes no action against the religious activities of the majority community.
