Muslim groups warn UP government to desist from interfering in Eidul Adha affairs

New Delhi, 29 July 2020 [Fik/News Sources]: Reacting to media reports that sacrificial animal is being seized by the UP police in different parts of the state, leading Muslim groups warned that the state’s BJP government must desist from interfering into the religious affairs of the Muslim community. While condemning the police action, they termed it as an attack on their fundamental and religious rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India and discriminatory.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (M) expressed its deep anguish over the reports.  Jamiat President Maulana Qari Mohammad Usman Mansurpoori said it is unfortunate that district administration issued an order banning the sacrifice of animals (buffalo) on the occasion of Eidul Adha in different parts of the country and particularly in Uttar Pradesh.  He called it unwarranted interference in the religious rights of the Muslim community underlining that the qurbani is the essential part of Islam.

Jamiat has received several written complaints across from the state that the UP police personnel are taking away sacrificial animals by using force.   In addition to this, the District Administrations of Ghazipur, Ghaziabad and Bahraich and others have banned the sacrifice of the cattle (buffalo) on the occasion.

Maulana Mansurpuri asked on what grounds and under which laws the police are enforcing a ban on cattle sacrifice.

There is anger and disquiet among the members of Muslim community against this tyrannical action of the local administration, he said while condemning the police brutality.   Jamiat demands immediate withdrawal of these orders ensuring that Muslims perform their religious affairs without any hassles, he said.

Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) also came down heavily on the UP government led by Hindu monk, Adityanath as well the Center for adopting double standards as far Muslim religious matters are concerned.   SDPI vice president and noted lawyer Sharfuddin Ahmad alleged that the state police are using strong arm-tactics to deter the people from performing Qurbani which is a brazen assault on the religious rights of the people enshrined in the Constitution of India.

On the one side, under pretext of Covid-19, the state government is not allowing congregational prayers in mosques and Eidgahs on the day of Eid Al-Adha while throwing all the restrictions of Covid-19 to wind, the Ram Mandir foundation ceremony on the demolished Babri Masjid site is planned in a big way on August 5, Ahmad said who hails from Kanpur.

Earlier too, in the midst of  the strict lockdown, the CM Adityanath had held a grand religious programme in Ajodhya to flaunt his Hinduness but  putting hurdles in the religious matters of Muslims in the state , he added.

Ahmad also took BJP MLA from Loni assembly constituency in Ghaziabad, Nand Kishore Gujar to task who offended the sentiments  of Muslims by asking them  to “sacrifice their children instead of animals” on the occasion.  The BJP leader further claimed that “meat spreads coronavirus” so people should not be allowed to sacrifice innocent animals.

He said the BJP leadership must rein in such irresponsible party members.

Referring to the bizarre incident of arresting a sacrificial goat by the police in his city, SDPI leader said the incident shows the prejudice of the state police toward the Muslim community who has been at the receiving end since the present regime came to power in February 2017.

He also alleged that the government is using the services of some dalals (agents) from the community in order to create confusion about the offering of Eid Namaz at Eidgahs and qurbani.

Muslims   will follow all the guidelines issued for Eidul Adha and qurbani but won’t tolerate any lecturing on sacrificing animals, he warned.

Jamiat chief Maulana Mansurpoori also averred that guidelines issued by the government with regard to Eidul Adha and qurbani are being followed by the community. The Muslim leaders are also raising awareness in this regard.  However, the community cannot accept unwarranted orders issued by the administration which gets in the way of performing their religious duties, he said.

Maulana Mansurpoori warned if   timely action were not taken, then anarchy may prevail in the country which can create serious law and order problems and for this, the government of the day will be responsible.