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.
Speaking to media persons over the controversies regarding the Muslim personal law and central government's attempt to implement uniform civil code, he said that there is lot of misconceptions in the society about polygamy and talaq.
Comments
Mr. Modi spends time at RSS ashram not with his wife.
100% ....no doubt
Well said Mr. Kodi....
Many people who think their view is intelligent than the divine rule...
Are really unaware of their ignorance....
They should read what sharia law is and how triple talaq is implemented if the couple doesnt go along with each other rather than making a big issue by just taking and joining hands with the Haters who alwz try to demonize the divine law...
It is the mercy of ALLAH. that Muslims and non muslims are learning the Divine law and I request all to compare divine law by yourself with the man made law...
Under the sharia law Muslim women's are happy it is a divine law not man made law to be changed. In islam women's have more respect and living with dignity and modesty. If you go through the survey you can find more divorce and more than one wife in other religions. Only handful self styled Muslim women's without islamic knowledge with the help of few vested interest try to defame the sharia law and trying to apply the common civil code in the country. UCC is a drama and the hidden agenda of sangh parivar and its paid anti muslim channels and media to divert the attention of NDA's failure and bring the Ache din to the people. If they really concerned the welfare of muslim women they can empower educationally and economically without any type discrimination.
Really appreciated comment.....who don't know about a family cannot have sentiments towards anyone....he don't know what is love .... what he knows is written dialogues by others....
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