On Namaz Row Haryana Chief Minister Khattar Clarifies, "Haven't Spoken About Stopping Anyone"
CHANDIGARH: After saying namaz should be read only in mosques and idgahs, the Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar clarified that he did not speak about stopping anyone.
"I haven't spoken about stopping anyone. Maintaining law and order is the duty of the police and the administration," Mr Khattar said in Chandigarh.
Speaking on reports of Friday namaz being disrupted allegedly by right-wing groups in Gurgaon on April 4, Mr Khattar, had backed the members of groups, saying it is not right to pray in open spaces.
"It is our duty to maintain law and order. There has been an increase in offering namaz in the open. Namaz should be read in mosques or idgahs rather than in public spaces," Mr Khattar told news agency ANI. While speaking to the media, the chief minister said, his government is keeping a close watch on the situation but if there is shortage of places for offering namaz, it should be done in personal spaces, inside homes.
As per reports, the fringe groups allegedly visited at least six locations in Gurgaon, where namaz was offered every Friday and stopped them from doing so.
Even though there has been no official reaction from the Gurgaon police, sources say adequate number of forces reached the namaz sites and prevented any violence.