The Noida police, on December 21, told multinational companies in Sector 58 to instruct their employees not to offer Friday prayers in a community park. In the notice, the police have also stated that if their employees are seen offering prayers, then the companies would be held liable. After drawing criticism over the decision, the police claimed that the notice is not religion-specific. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) later said that the companies would not be held responsible for the actions of their employees.
As per the notice, Pankaj Rai, the in-charge of Sector 58 Police Station said, “The administration has not given any permission to hold any kind of religious activity, wherein offering Friday prayers, in the park in Sector 58. It has been often noticed that some of your Muslim employees gather in the park in Sector 58 to offer Namaz on Fridays,” as reported by The Quint.
Noida: Police have issued a notice asking companies to ensure that no religious activities are carried out in a park in Sec-58 by their employees, that includes Friday namaz.Notice also states that companies will be held responsible if employees are found offering namaz in parks. pic.twitter.com/MY9PqzuDQk
— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2018
According to NDTV sources, the notice was issued to the companies after some Hindu groups had complained to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Noida. Reportedly, the group had claimed that offering Namaz in the open “disrupts harmony” in the park. Following this, at least 12 MNCs, including HCL, got the notice that said, “Nobody is allowed to offer Friday prayers in the park.” Further, the notice claimed that if their employees would be seen doing the same, then the company would be held responsible.
Soon after the order was passed, Noida’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Pal Sharma, told the media that the move is not specific to a particular religion.
BN Singh, DM Gautam Budh Nagar, said that the media has created the confusion among the people. He added that the order was issued on the basis of the application made by the local. He further added that anyone before offering any prayer at the public places would have to take permission, reported The Quint.
Soon after the orders to the MNCs, the companies’ officials met senior Noida police officials for clarification on the matter. As per the reports, the companies are planning to approach the court against the order. They have also raised concerns about them being liable for violation of the order by employees.
Speaking later to CNN-News18 after controversy over the decision, Singh said that companies were not supposed to be held responsible for the religious beliefs of their employees. “The district administration will talk to the companies and clear their doubts,” he added.
The widespread criticism
The order received huge criticism from the opposition and others. AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, questioned the UP police move saying how can an MNC be held liable for what their employees do in individual capacity.
UP Cops literally showered petals for Kanwariyas, but namaz once a week can mean “disrupting peace & harmony”. This is telling Muslims: aap kuch bhi karlo, ghalti to aapki hi hogi.
Also, by law, how does one hold an MNC liable for what their employees do in individual capacity? https://t.co/b90Jw5ZMHY
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) December 25, 2018
Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson Sunil Yadav said that if the employees cannot go to the parks then they should be given a break during their working hours so that they can go and offer Namaz at a nearby mosque.
The order also drew flak from many others.
Court says ‘Masjid is not an essential part of Islam’.
Which means we can do away with Masjids.
Noida police says ‘Namaz will not be allowed anywhere in open’(except Masjids)
Once &for all,can Courts & police decide if Indian Muslims are entitled to any religious freedom at all?— Arfa Khanum Sherwani (@khanumarfa) December 25, 2018
What a secular country? Muslims are not even allowed to pray in public parks, while Hindus can put their Gods in government offices! https://t.co/YFCFxsFSV0
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) December 25, 2018
Meanwhile, UP BJP spokesperson Dr. Chandramohan defended the UP police move. He said that the issue should not be politicised.
He further said that the order had been issued to avoid law and order issues. “Since we have come to power, no incident of riots has happened. We have worked for the development of people belonging to every section of society,” he said, reported India Today.
Similar incidents
On May 4 this year, almost 1,000 Muslims were stopped from offering their Friday prayers in open plots at 10 locations in Gurugram – plots they had been using to offer Namaz for the last 20-25 years.
On April 20, eight men chanting “Jai Shree Ram” forced about 500 Muslims to stop offering Namaz at a vacant plot in Gurugram’s Sector 53.
Also Read: Hindutva Fringe Groups’ New Goal: Prevent Muslims From Offering Prayers
