Stop offering namaz openly; live like Hindus: Panchayat issues diktat to Muslims in this village

A village panchayat in Haryana’s Rohtak district has issued a diktat asking the Muslims in the area to shun all Islamic practices including offering namaz in open spaces keeping Islamic names, and lead life like Hindus. At least half a dozen police personnel were present in the 

Shockingly, at least half-a-dozen police personnel were present in the Tuesday’s meeting at the Titoli village wherein the panchayat elders, who are known for their extremist Hindutva stance, issued the stricture to Muslims. 

Here are some of the strictures issued to the Muslims of the village by the panchayat elders:

- They should keep Hindu names 
- They should not wear skull caps
- They should not grow long beards
- They should remove all visible identity-markers indicating their religion 
- They should not offer namaz in open spaces
- They should be obedient to Hindus
- They should neither eat beef, nor allow beef eaters to enter their houses

According to Rohtak Tehsil Nambardars’ Association president Suresh Nambardar, the members of all castes and religious communities from the village were present in the meeting.

He said apart from the strictures, it was also decided that the Waqf Board land measuring over an acre in the middle of the village would be taken over by the panchayat and a plot given to the Muslims outside the village for burial.

It could be recalled here that on August 22, a mob had attacked the house of a Muslim family in the village accusing them of killing a calf. 

It was also decided in the meeting that Yameen, who faces cow slaughter charges and whose house was attacked in August, would not be allowed to enter the village.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Rohtak, Rakesh Kumar said that the matter came to his knowledge on Wednesday evening and a probe would be conducted into it. “It is unconstitutional. I will speak to the village sarpanch in this connection,” said Mr. Kumar.

This is not the first time the issue of religious freedom has come into question in Haryana. In May this year, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said namaz should be offered in mosques and not public spaces, inviting ire from members of the community. 

“We are of the view that namaz should be offered at mosques or ‘eidgahs’... In case of shortage of space, it should be offered at a personal place. These are issues which should not be put for public display... It should be avoided at public places for the convenience of all,"  Khattar had said.

In 2015, Khattar had said, "Muslims can continue to live in this country, but they will have to give up eating beef. The cow is an article of faith here."