Noida: After Namaz, Hindu Religious Event Barred on Government Land
A nine-day 'Bhagwat Katha' programme was scheduled to begin from Wednesday on the land.
New Delhi, December 27: Greater Noida Authority officials, along with Noida police, on Wednesday removed a tent placed for a Hindu religious event on government land in Sector 37. A nine-day 'Bhagwat Katha' programme was scheduled to begin from Wednesday on the land. Following the action, several people staged a protest and raised slogans.
According to the Greater Noida Authority, the organisers did not have requisite permission for the religious event from the district administration. "We received information about the programme being held on a 1,000-sq.mt land which belongs to the Greater Noida Authority. Since no permission was sought by the organisers, we disallowed holding of this event," an officer told news agency IANS. Noida Namaz Diktat Revoked After Furore.
"The organisers had placed tents and loudspeakers at the site which were removed. We directed the organisers to first take permission from the district administration to perform such religious ceremony," the officer added. The development comes days after the Noida police had issued notices to around 23 multinational companies in Sector 58 Police Station area to stop their Muslim employees from gathering in a local park for offering Friday namaz.
The administration said such religious gatherings at public places are unauthorised and cannot be performed without administration's permission. "It is often seen that Muslim employees of your companies gather in large number in the park despite being advised against doing so and despite the city magistrate denying their request for permission to use it for offering namaaz," the notices, addressed to the managers of the firms, said.
However, after facing flak, Noida DM Brajesh Narain Singh withdrew the order and assured companies that there would be no action against them if their Muslim employees are found praying Namaz at public places.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 27, 2018 10:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).