PDP on Namaz ban in parks: “BJP trying to turn country into a communal cauldron”

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday questioned the ban order imposed on offering Namaz at local parks in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida city, stating that such designs of Yogi Adityanath and his ilk must be defeated by country’s saner voices in unison.
In a statement issued here, Former Minister and senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said it is a cruel irony that on one hand there is a decision received from the Supreme Court declaring that a mosque is not essential to the practice of Islam and on the other hand, the government is squeezing public places for Muslims to pray. “Even on the lands owned by the Waqf Board, new mosques are not allowed to be built in many parts of the country including UP. Such measures are only aimed to isolate and demonize Muslim community,” Akhtar said.
The PDP leader added that there was a similar move witnessed in Gurugram in May this year and it is unfortunate that Sang Parivar is not taking the message which is written in bold letters from recent reverses that India is not a place to play communal politics. “Many people may have problems with it given the modern realities but praying publically has historically been the part of the culture of this country and Maha Shivratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Christmas and many other religious festivals are celebrated in public places since ages. It adds to the beauty of this country and these divisive elements must know that diversity of culture and religion is India’s real strength,” Akhtar said, adding that India is a continuing festival and must be celebrated as such.
He added that the ban should not be restricted to one particular community which has unfortunately been sought to be isolated and disenfranchised in recent past. “We hope that saner voices who are in the overwhelming majority in the country will rise up to this new trend and defeat the designs of Yogi Adityanath and others to create a communal cauldron out of a country which is proud of its multicultural and multi-religious ethos and its mosaic of diversity,” said Akhtar.