Sunday, October 13, 2024
HomeNews Reports‘Do not to overstep boundaries’, Hindu outfits demand probe after construction workers offer Namaz...

‘Do not to overstep boundaries’, Hindu outfits demand probe after construction workers offer Namaz at Badrinath Dham on Bakri Eid

Chamoli police which began investigating the matter, refuted the allegations, asserting that nothing of that sort had happened.

After the news of 15 labourers offering Namaz at Badrinath Dham in the holy town on the occasion of the Bakri Eid on July 21 (Wednesday) started doing the rounds on social media, the members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal met Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum, demanding a probe into the same. Meanwhile, Chamoli police which began investigating the matter, refuted the allegations, asserting that nothing of that sort had happened.

Chamoli police released a press note on its official Twitter handle yesterday itself, urging people to refrain from believing such unverified claims circulating on various social media platforms. The press note read that the Muslim labourers engaged in building a parking lot close to the temple offered Namaz inside their closed rooms without using loudspeakers and without the presence of any cleric or Maulvi. They also followed the Covid protocol of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, it added.

It is pertinent to note here that a report by Dainik Jagran published on July 21 claimed that a complaint was registered against the 15 labourers for flouting Covid norms. Chamoli police, however, clarified that the offering of the Namaz was a private affair, and the workers had adhered to all covid protocols while doing the same. Though the police confirmed carrying out an investigation, there was no mention of any case being registered against the labourers. Chamoli police said that in case, during the investigation, it is revealed that Covid protocols were flouted, then appropriate action would be taken under the Disaster Management Act.

In 2018, the central government had approved a project called “Astha Path” to face-lift the temple premises in the holy town of Badrinath. Yesterday, Hindus were enraged after social media posts started doing the rounds alleging that a group of Muslim labourers, who were appointed by the contractor to construct a parking area for this project, offered Namaz in the Badrinath Dham temple on the occasion of Bakri Eid.

Following the outrage, Hindu outfits submitted a memorandum to the Uttarakhand cabinet minister raising objections to Muslims performing Namaz in the holy town of Hindus. They expressed displeasure saying that when Hindus devotees are not being allowed to visit the holy shrine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then how can Muslims be allowed to offer Namaz, that too at a place which is considered extremely sacred by the Hindus.

However, soon the Chamoli police issued clarifications, calling the social media posts false. Today, again Chamoli police shared an audio clip in which the Superintendent of Police, Chamoli, Shri Yashwant Singh Chouhan stated that the police have not found any evidence to substantiate the claims which did the rounds on social media. Confirming that the Namaz was not read in a public place, Chouhan said: “Chamoli police request all of you, please do not share any misleading news without verifying the facts”.

Badrinath is considered one of the holiest places in the Hindu religion. One of the 108 Divya Desams, the Badrinath temple is part of Char Dham also referred to as “the four abodes”, consisting of the pilgrimage circuit of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath. It is also a part of the Chota Char Dham, comprising of the pilgrimage circuit of Badrinath, Rameswaram, Dwarka and Puri. Badrinath temple was re-established by Adi Shankracharya in the 8th century as part of his mission to enliven Hinduism. According to Hindu scripture, it is believed that visiting these sites helps in achieving moksha (salvation).

Meanwhile, it was reported how Kerala had seen a spike in the number of Covid cases due to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in the state ahead of the Eid-ul-Adha or Bakri Eid. As restrictions were removed ahead of the Eid celebrations, Kerala has recorded the highest number of fresh cases surpassing the two-month average.

Join OpIndia's official WhatsApp channel

  Support Us  

Whether NDTV or 'The Wire', they never have to worry about funds. In name of saving democracy, they get money from various sources. We need your support to fight them. Please contribute whatever you can afford

OpIndia Staff
OpIndia Staffhttps://www.opindia.com
Staff reporter at OpIndia

Related Articles

Trending now

Recently Popular

- Advertisement -