Masjids not mandatory for Muslims' Friday prayers: Adityanath claims

Meerut: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday repeated the controversial statement by a senior cop that Holi is celebrated once a year, and Friday prayers happen every week, supporting the cop’s statement, The Indian Express reported.

It was at a peace committee meeting held at the Sambhal Kotwali Police station on March 6 that the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anuj Chaudhary said that the festival of colours comes only once in a year while the Friday prayers of Muslims come 52 times in one year. He said that he advise Muslims who think that colours on them while going for the Friday namaz will be an ungodly act should remain indoors until the Holi celebrations on the streets subside.

This year, Holi is on Friday, 14th March, while Muslims offer special prayers on Fridays (Jum'a), and it is the holy month of Ramadan as well.

However, the cop faced flak from Dr Rajendra Pensiya, District Magistrate of Sambhal, on Saturday. Pensiya has issued directives stating that no official should make any public statements without his or the SP’s permission. He said that the top priority of the district administration is to maintain peace, and issuing such statements might hurt the religious feelings of any group of people.

Addressing the India Today conclave, Yogi Adityanath lauded DSP Chaudhary saying that the police officer may have spoken as a “pehalwan”, reiterating the officer's controversial statement. He claimed that Namaz can be delayed, but Holi celebrations cannot. If Muslims wanted to offer Friday Jumah (special prayers) on time, they could do so inside their own houses.

It should be noted that Jum'a prayers were carried out in Masjids and in congregations during a fixed time at noon.

Adityanath also claimed mosques are not mandatory for Namaz.

He said that people should respect each other’s feelings during festivals.