A video has surfaced on social media wherein a diktat is being imposed in Shaikhpara town in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal.
An e-rickshaw, equipped with a large speaker, was seen playing a pre-recorded audio mandating the closure of all shops on each Friday barring a few exceptions.
“Please listen carefully. Shaikhpara Bazar committee wants to inform our shopkeeper friends that starting next Friday, all shops will remain closed throughout the day except hotels and the ones selling medicines, sweets, fish, meat, fruits and vegetables.”
Taliban-like fatawa in #Murshidabad district of #WestBengal.
— Hindu Voice (@HinduVoice_in) December 14, 2024
In Sheikh Para Market, an announcement was made that all shops will be remain closed on #Friday.
Tea stall will be closed till 5 PM.
Only Medicine, Fish-meat, vegetable, hotel, sweet shops will be open.
The… pic.twitter.com/rSdgqzSp3e
“The shops selling tea and snacks can open after 5 pm on Friday. We are looking forward to your co-operation,” it further added.
For the unversed, Murshidabad district has a 66.27% Muslim population as per the 2011 census data. Friday is the day of Jumma Namaz.
As such, social media users are questioning whether the ‘diktat’ by the Shaikhpara Bazar committee is influenced by Islamic motivation and majoritarianism.
WB:- Murshidabad, Sheikh Para Market:- A fatwa-like announcement mandates shop closures on Fridays, except for medicine, food, and sweets. Tea stalls close until 5 PM. pic.twitter.com/ceECowfYem
— Angry Saffron (@AngrySaffron) December 15, 2024
It also implied that Hindu shopkeepers would also have to comply with this rule.
Previously, the schools in the Union territory of Lakshadweep also had their weekly off on Friday to appease the majority Muslim population (96%).
Raninagar police deny any communal angle
OpIndia had reached out to the Raninagar police station, given that Shaikhpara town falls under its jurisdiction.
On being asked about the viral video and the underlying communal overtones of the diktat, SI Bidyut Sarkar vehemently dismissed any ‘communal angle.’
“There is no communal angle. This is the decision of the bazaar committee,” he inadvertently confirmed that the viral video was indeed from Shaikhpara.
