New Delhi, Apr 16: Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday directed state waqf boards to ensure strict implementation of lockdown and social distancing guidelines during the holy month of Ramzan starting next week amid the coronavirus pandemic.
At a meeting via video conferencing, Naqvi asked the state waqf boards' officials to create awareness among people to offer prayers and perform other religious rituals like "iftar (breaking of fast)" during Ramzan, which begins on April 24 or 25, staying inside their homes.
More than seven lakh registered mosques, eidgahs, imambadas, dargahs and other religious and social institutions come under state waqf boards across the country. The Central Waqf Council is the regulatory body of state waqf boards in India.
"We should cooperate with health workers, security forces, administrative officers, sanitation workers. They are working for our safety and well-being even putting their own lives at risk in this coronavirus pandemic," Naqvi said.
"We should also demolish rumours and misinformation being spread about quarantine and isolation centres by creating awareness among people that such centres are only meant to protect people, their families and the society from the pandemic," the minister said.
Naqvi told all the state waqf boards and religious and social organisations that everyone should remain cautious of any type of fake news and conspiracies aimed at creating misinformation.
"Authorities have been working for safety and well-being of all citizens of the country without any discrimination. Such type of rumours and conspiracies are a nefarious design to weaken the fight against coronavirus," he said.
"We should work united to win this fight against corona by defeating any type of rumour, misinformation and conspiracy," the minister said.
Naqvi asked officials of all the state waqf boards to play an active and effective role in ensuring that people follow the guidelines of the Union Home Ministry, state governments and the Central Waqf Council while fulfilling religious responsibilities during Ramzan.
In view of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, all religious and social activities and mass gatherings in all the temples, gurdwaras, churches and other religious and social places of the country have been stopped, he said.
Similarly, any mass gatherings in mosques and other Muslim religious places of the country has also been stopped, Naqvi said.
He said that due to the COVID-19 threat, religious leaders as well as religious and social organisations from all regions of the country, have appealed to people to offer prayers and perform all other religious rituals staying inside their homes during Ramzan.
Most of the Muslim nations of the world have also banned mass gatherings at mosques and other religious places during the holy month, he pointed out.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in cooperation with all the state governments, has been working effectively for the safety and well-being of the people, he said.
The cooperation of the people has brought great relief to India in the war against COVID-19 Naqvi said, adding that several challenges are still there before the country.
"We can defeat these challenges of the coronavirus pandemic by following all the guidelines of the central and state governments strictly," he asserted.
Chairman and senior officials from state waqf boards such as Uttar Pradesh (Shia & Sunni), Andhra Pradesh, Bihar (Shia & Sunni), Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar, Assam, Manipur, among others participated in the meeting.
State waqf boards from Rajasthan, Telangana, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttarakhand also participated.
According to reports, the Mumbai Police has recommended that the state book Dr Naik under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and ban IRF.
Comments
First attempt failed..... Maharashtra govt. Gave clean chit...now BJP center running behind Muslim schools and scholars......khujlee of people flowing in to Islam...no one can stop this if god wills....
FIRST BRING THE MALLYA TO INDIA
THEN FOCUS ON THE ZAKIR NAYAK ISSUE ,, ONCE POLICE GAVE HIM CLEAN CHIT RIGHT AGAIN THEY MAKING SOME DRAMA FOR DR ZAKIR NAYAK...
Haha Try hard RSS terrorists. Hand in Glove with Cow Swamy. Whatever you do, Cowswamy has to pay 500 crore to Dr. Naik.
India belongs to Muslims as much as Hindus. We need our own Main Stream Islamic Channel in India. This is our constitutional right. We Muslims must fight and come out on the street for following channels to be shown in India Makkha Channel, Madina Channel & Peace TV.
We Muslims has to work hard for Da'awa in India. Distribute Islamic CD's on comparative studies to non Muslims so that they can Judge between right and wrong.
We will wait and watch extent of RSS terrorism. Gulf countries should freeze RSS terrorists & Sympathizers accounts. They should put pressure on US govt to declare RSS organization as terrorist organization.
In Sha Allah End of Times Now Channel & Cowswamy. I have serious doubt on Maroof raza (Times Now Consultant) whether he is Muslim.
Mr. nothing but truth, for you he might seem like a Joker, for Allah dr. Zakir naik is his obedient slave, and Allah loves his slaves like anything which is beyond the capacity of human being's imagination. Fear Allah, fear the torment of Allah, if you don't know yet, refer to the holy Quran just once. We pray almighty Allah to protect dr. Zakir naik and in sha Allah you will see. Allah says in the holy Quran \Wakul Ja al haq wa zahkal batil, innal batila kaana zahooka\" The truth has arrived and the falsehood perished, Indeed falsehood is bound to perish."
Now let Mr. Joker Naik present his illogical logic in front of court. He would then understand Court is not a place to bluff as he does so often among innocent half-educated public. The heat is on..
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