Row in Noida society over namaz; Muslims allege ‘Hanuman Chalisa recited’ to stop prayers
The Hindu
A row erupted in Noida’s Supertech Ecovillage-2 housing society after residents from two communities had arguments over offering namaz inside the society’s commercial complex. Police officers said that the situation was brought under control and force was deployed in the society
A row erupted in a Noida housing society on the evening of March 27 after residents from two communities had arguments over offering namaz inside the society’s commercial complex. Police officers said that the situation was brought under control and force was deployed in the society.
Muslim residents of Supertech Ecovillage-2 housing society said that they had been offering namaz every year during Ramzan at a half-constructed and abandoned space on the third floor of the supermart in the society premises for about three-four years. “Nobody ever had a problem and we never disturbed anybody, but this time some men affiliated to the RSS or VHP started objecting to it. They came with mic and loudspeaker and started chanting Hanuman Challisa there,” said Inam Khan, 46, a resident of the society.
“We had made arrangements only after permission from the society management and had put a carpet, some lights and curtains for mosquitoes. We do it every year only for eight days to offer the Tarawih namaz, but didn’t know it will irk some people,” he said.
Ravi Sharma, 39, a society resident and Gautam Buddh Nagar vice-president of the VHP said that it was a security concern as “some outsiders were also coming to offer namaz there”.
“We noticed that for the last three-four days, some people who were not from our society were coming to offer namaz. We had asked the management to get it stopped the previous day. When no action was taken, we had to protest by reciting Hanuman Chalisa,” said Mr. Sharma.
“We also asked them peacefully to stop offering namaz in our society, some of them got aggressive and said they will even build a mosque here,” Mr. Sharma added.
Mr. Inam Khan, however, said that only the relatives or close friends of Muslim residents had come from outside. “Everybody likes to celebrate festivals with their loved ones which is why we called them,” he said, adding, “All society residents have always lived in harmony here but some politically motivated persons provoked everybody.”