Prayer promotes peace, no tension should be allowed over it: Naqvi

Amid row over namaz being offered in the open in Gurugram and right-wing groups disrupting them, Union minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the issue has to be settled amicably.

 Union minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said prayers promote peace and no tension should be allowed in the name of worshipping god.

Naqvi’s comments came a day after Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said namaz should “ideally” be offered in mosques or at one’s home. The comments were made after right-wing protesters allegedly disrupted prayers by Muslims in at least 10 public places in Gurugram.

Naqvi said the Haryana government is “very sensitive” towards the issue and CM Khattar had himself clarified that his regime is not against offering prayers.

“There has been an increase in occurrence of namaz being offered at public places. It is fine till no one objects. But ideally namaz should be offered in the precincts of a religious place or at one’s home,” Khattar said on Sunday.

On Monday, certain media reports quoted Haryana health minister Anil Vij as saying that if someone needs to offer namaz, he has the religious freedom to do so, but one cannot offer namaz anywhere in the open with the intention of grabbing land.

Naqvi, however, added that if there was any complaint in this connection, the issue had to be settled amicably.

“Prayer promotes peace and not tension. Hence, no tension should be allowed in the name of prayer. According to provisions, prayers are to be performed at authorised places,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

“The state government is sensitive (towards the issue) and the chief minister has also clarified that they are not against offering prayers. But if anybody is complaining, it is better to settle the issue amicably,” Naqvi added.

The Union minister said those offering namaz were aware of the rules in the Islam regarding where to offer prayers and hence, it was not right to fight over it.

To a question on the row over a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), he said the students and the administration of the institute should put an end to the “uncalled for controversy”.

“Jinnah is not a role model for the country or its Muslims. Hence, this controversy has to be brought to an end and it should be ensured that the university’s dignity is maintained,” Naqvi added.