New Delhi: Some civil society members, including social activists, former MPs of the University of Delhi, urged people to protect the country’s social fabric in the background of Sunday protests in Gurgaon offered in public spaces.
Protests, they said, were part of a greater plan to make a “invisible” minority.
Overcoming a press conference at the Indian Constitutional Club on Wednesday, Altaf Ahmed from the Gurgaon Muslim Council said Muslims were forced to pray in open space in the city due to lack of mosques.
“There are 5 Muslims lakh in Gurgaon and not enough mosques to accommodate them.
So, we start giving prayers on the designated site (by administration).
This (number of sites) is being trimmed repeatedly by administration,” he said.
This Monday, after a meeting with Deputy Deputy Gurgaon Yash Garg and DCP (West) Deepak Sahara, the clothes involved in official discussions about Namaz sites have indicated that the number of public spaces where Friday prayers can be offered will be reduced to six, from 37.
When protests begin.
However, there is an official announcement by the District Administration.
The press conference was organized by former MP Mohammad Adeeb, who was also a resident of Gurgaon.
The others were present including former members of the Planning Commission Dr.
Syeda Hameed, Du Professor Apoorvanand, former Professor IIT VK Tripathi, Social Activist Shabnam Hashmi and Power Singh, Suryor Manderem Advocating, and Religious Leader Mufti Saleem Qasmi.
“We are talking here about public land.
Public land is maintained by taxpayer money and both Hinduism and Muslims are taxpayers.
So, how could certain parts be able to determine what to happen on the land?” Said Apoorvanand.
The speakers also criticized “unresponsive” from the Gurgaon government in resolving problems and accusing them “acting as a mere audience”.
“There are several criminals that can be seen every Friday and they are people who collect crowds at any time.
But the administration has failed to take any action against them,” Aporpanand added.
Mufti Qasmi added, “We have filed complaints several times but not one pine has been registered.”