Clerics Say Uttar Pradesh Police Order on Muslim Prayers Unconstitutional
The issue was noticed by police stations last week. It said that companies will be held liable if their employees are found breaching the order. The BJP has defended the UP Police's order, while Muslim clerics have termed the move as unconstitutional.
The employees have been asked to offer namaz (prayers) in mosques, idgahs (holy sites) or inside the premises of the company.
According to the Times Now daily, the order directs the administration to ask its employees not to assemble and offer prayers in open areas. The copy orders to curb any kind of religious activities as the permission from the magistrate office for the same has not been granted.
As per reports, companies in Noida’s Sector 58, which is an IT and services hub, seek to meet senior Noida cops in order to get clarity on the matter. Defending the directive, the Noida Police said it was issued amid concerns that communal harmony could be disturbed, especially ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
As per the notice issued by Police: "We want to inform you that there is no permission from the administration to conduct any kind of religious activity including Namaz offered on Friday in the Authority park in Sector 58. It has been often seen that the Muslim workers of your company assemble in the park to offer Namaz and I, the SHO, have told the group to not hold prayers in the park. Also, their plea to the city magistrate has not received any permission to do so.”
“Thus, it is expected from you that you at your level inform your Muslim employees to not come to the park to offer Namaz. If employees of your company come to the park, it will be assumed that you have not informed your employees and your company will be held liable.”
