ROHTAK: Panchayat officials in a Haryana village has issued a diktat asking the Muslim population in the area to adopt Hindu names, not offer namaz in open spaces, and remove visible identity markers indicating their religion- which includes long beards and skull cap. The decision was made following an oral resolution at the panchayat after a mob attacked house of a Muslim family on August 22, accusing them of killing a calf in Titoli village.
A probe has been ordered into the diktat. “It is unconstitutional. I will speak to the village sarpanch in this connection,” Rakesh Kumar, Rohtak Sub-divisional Magistrate said. This is not the first case on the issue of religious freedom in the state. 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.
He had said, “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.” The CM has also made statements in the past, indicating restriction on the religious freedom of Muslims in Haryana.
