✃The ongoing Holi-Friday Namaz row was triggered again by the comments made by mayor of Bihar's Darbhanga who suggested a two-hour break during Holi celebrations on March 14 which is a Friday and is coinciding with Jumma prayers in the holy month of Ramzan.
🍒Mayor Anjum Ara in a statement proposed that Holi festivities be paused temporarily between 12.30 pm to 2 pm, given that the timing of Jumma (Friday prayers) cannot be changed.
🍷Ara's comments drew sharp criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Bihar, including MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul who called her proposal ' terrorist mindset'. Bachaul has earlier asked Muslims to stay indoor on Holi.
🧸The row started when Sambhal police officer earlier stated that "Holi is a festival that comes once a year, whereas Friday prayers take place 52 times a year," while also suggesting people who have an issue with Holi colours should stay at home.
What Did Bihar Mayor Say?
♛Darbhanga Mayor Anjum Ara in a statement said, "Jumma time cannot be extended, so there should be a two-hour break on Holi."
🀅The mayor also urged that those celebrating Holi should keep a distance from mosques for two hours during Jumma.
𝓀"Holi and Ramzan have been celebrated many times before and have been celebrated peacefully in the district," she further said.
🉐The statement comes days after the district administration held a peace committee meeting with community representatives.
🦋Many cities including Delhi have tightened security and prepped for any law and order situation that may arise on March 14.
BJP's Response
🤡However, the mayor's remark triggered a strong riposte from the BJP, with MLA Haribhushan Thakur calling her a woman with a "terrorist mindset". Opposing her proposal, Thakur said there would be no restrictions on Holi celebrations.
ꦡ"There will be no ban on Holi celebrations. The mayor is a woman with a Ghazwa-e-Hind mentality. We know about her family background. How can she stop Holi? Holi will not stop, it will not stop even for a minute," Thakur asserted.
🎃This is not the first time Thakur made remarks on this row, earlier on March 10, he asked Muslims to 'stay indoors' on Holi.
🐼He had stated, "I want to appeal to Muslims there are 52 jummas (Fridays) in a year. The one this week coincides with Holi. So, they should let Hindus celebrate the festival and not take offence if colours are smeared on them. If they have such a problem, they should stay indoors. This is essential for maintaining communal harmony."
Reactions To Holi-Friday Namaz Row
ꩵTejashwi Yadav, a former deputy chief minister reacted to initial comments made by Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul and stated, "It is not his father's rule (baap ka raj). There should be an FIR against him for trying to whip up communal tension".
🃏"But Bachaul should remember this is Bihar, where designs of RSS-BJP and Sangh Parivar have often been foiled. He thinks he can strike terror into our Muslim brethren. But ours is a land where every single Muslim would be protected by at least five to six Hindus", asserted Yadav.
He added, "I would also like Chief Minister Nitish Kumar 𝔉to summon Bachaul and pull him up for his tirade against the minority community. Though that may be too much to expect from the Leader of the House who no longer seems to be in his senses".
✨However, state minority affairs minister and JD(U) leader Zama Khan asserted that "there will be no untoward incident. The administration has been clearly instructed to ensure harmony during the festive season."
🅠BJP MPs later criticised RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's 'baap ka raj' tirade against Thakur
𒆙BJP's Lok Sabha chief whip Sanjay Jaiswal said, "I do not support either of the comments."
Holi is a "festival of love" and should be celebrated by all Hindus and Muslims, the BJP Paschim Champaran MP told PTI Videos on the Parliament 🅰Complex. "We also visit everybody's home during Eid and celebrate. If you do not want anyone to throw colour on you, stay at home peacefully till midnight."
♎Union minister Nityanand Rai said the Bihar BJP MLA in his remarks meant to say that those coming out of their homes on Holi should remain prepared to play Holi.
ജ"All participate in each other's festival in India today. If someone today asks someone to join his festival, then there is nothing wrong in it. All should participate in everybody's festival," the Union minister, who represents Bihar's Ujiyarpur Lok Sabha seat
How Did This Controversy Begin?
🎶Sambhal CO Anuj Chaudhary on March 6 told reporters, "Holi is a festival that comes once a year, whereas Friday prayers take place 52 times a year. If anyone feels uncomfortable with the colours of Holi, they should stay indoors on that day. Those who step out should have a broad mindset as festivals are meant to be celebrated together."
♈Chaudhary also urged for communal harmony and strict vigilance to maintain law and order on March 14.
♒This remark triggered opinions from all political parties while several BJP leaders backed him, the opposition leaders expressed sharp criticism.
🌄The mahant of the Kshemnath Teerth in Sambhal, Yogi Dinanath (who is also associated with the Nath sect) told reporters, "Anuj Chaudhary has not said anything wrong. He has explained this for maintaining law and order."
𒆙Uttar Pradesh minister Gulab Devi when asked about the remarks, said, "In a democracy, everyone is entitled to an opinion. I think there is no such thing in it. How many times do we get the opportunity to have Jumma in a year and Holi comes once a year, so both sides should celebrate their festivals together and also maintain peace and order."
𓄧Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath supporting the Sambhal Police official said that he may have spoken as a "pehelwan", but what the Arjun awardee said was correct.
꧂He said namaz could be offered after 2 pm, and people who wish to do so before that can pray at home. Whoever wants to go to a mosque should mind the Holi colours, he added.
🎶The chief minister also thanked religious leaders for deciding to hold Friday namaz after 2 pm.
🍌According to reports, Haridwar Superintendent of Police Pankaj Gairola said that peace meeting between community representatives have come up with the understanding that Mosques in Uttarakhand's Haridwar and Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur will hold Friday prayers after 2.30 pm on March 14.
ꦇMeanwhile Sambhal's Jama Masjid has denied agreeing to the pact of beginning the Jumma Prayers at 2:30 pm that day.
