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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya on Tuesday wrote to the Mumbai Police and civic authorities, urging them to take steps to stop the offering of namaz on public roads in the city, claiming it leads to traffic disruption and inconvenience to commuters, especially during peak hours and Fridays.
In his letter, Somaiya said, "Stop offering Namaz on the road," adding that in a city like Mumbai, such gatherings on streets had become a "serious problem." He claimed that in several instances, people gather outside railway stations and key transport junctions to offer namaz, leading to congestion. "In many places, people go outside the railway station to offer Namaz," he said in the letter, adding that this results in inconvenience to daily commuters. Somaiya further wrote that such activities on working days cause disruption to the routine movement of citizens. "On Friday afternoon, on working days, such types of Namaz were offered outside the station and at important places of transport," he said. He also warned that allowing such practices could set a precedent for similar gatherings on public roads. He stated, "Working day, Kamachya Din... does not give any people in the Muslim community the right to disrupt the daily routine of people like this." In his letter, Somaiya also used strong language while referring to certain elements, stating, "Some Muslim fanatics, people with Jihadi tendencies, people with bullying tendencies... Namaz is our birthright," adding, "This is how I behave." Referring to court rulings on the use of public spaces, he said there have been multiple decisions regarding the organisation of religious and cultural activities in public areas such as sports grounds and gardens. Somaiya has urged the Mumbai Police Commissioner, traffic police officials, municipal commissioner and suburban district authorities to immediately stop the offering of namaz on streets. Meanwhile, reacting to the issue, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Majeed Memon said that Namaz on roads should not be allowed as it causes inconvenience to others, while also stressing that the issue is administrative in nature. "It is right that Muslims should not offer Namaz on roads and inconvenience others. The Muslims themselves have said this," Memon told ANI, adding that lack of space in mosques is one of the reasons behind such gatherings. He further said, "This is happening because of less space in mosques as compared to the growing population of Muslims. Permission is not given for establishing new mosques." Memon added that namaz is typically offered inside mosques. "Namaz is offered five times a day, every day, inside mosques," he said, adding that the matter can be resolved through dialogue. Taking a dig at Somaiya, he said, "I want to ask Kirit Somaiya - Does he want Muslims to offer Namaz or not? People like him should be totally ignored, as this is a matter between the Muslim community and the administration." (ANI)
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