New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has come to the defence of a police officer in Sambhal who recently made controversial remarks asking those who were uncomfortable with colours on Holi – indicating it for Muslims – to stay home that day. Holi this year falls on Friday, the day on which Muslims, who are currently observing their holy month of Ramadan, attend their weekly afternoon namaz in mosques.
Earlier this week, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Sambhal Anuj Kumar Chaudhary drew a comparison between Holi and the weekly Friday namaz, suggesting that the former was more important as it was celebrated once a year.
Speaking to the media after conducting a peace committee meeting of various communities, Chaudhary said that since Holi and Jumma namaz were on the same day, he asked the Muslims to stay away from the streets if they could not accept the use of colours on them on the day.
“Hindus play Holi in a loving manner. They say ‘bura na mano Holi hain (don’t mind, it’s Holi)’. If you cannot accept the colours, then don’t go there. A year has 52 Jummas while Holi comes only once. Hindus wait for Holi just like people wait for Eid,” said Chaudhary.
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The officer, who has also grabbed headlines in the past for the wrong reasons, said that if Muslims wanted to step out, they should be large-hearted and not object if colour was thrown at them.
“Some people get drunk or drink bhang [on Holi). They are not in their senses. And if they spill colour on someone without realizing if they are Hindu or Muslim, the other person will think he threw colour at him because he is a Muslim,” said Chaudhary.
His remarks were met with criticism from the Opposition who argued that Chaudhary was acting partially.
Mohibullah Nadwi, Samajwadi Party MP from Rampur, asked under what authority was Chaudhary doing a “competitive study” of the two events.
“Being a police officer, he should appeal for peace,” said Nadwi.
The MP, who is also an imam at a mosque in New Delhi, appealed to CM Adityanath to remove Chaudhary from the district. Adityanath, however, defended the comments made by Chaudhary.
Adityanath backs police officer
Responding to a question put to him at the India Today conclave on Saturday, Adityanath said that the manner in which Chaudhary spoke “may have hurt a few” people but “he spoke the truth and people should accept it.”
Adityanath made light of the situation and even joked about the officer’s wrestling background.
“He spoke like a pehelwan,” said Adityanath before informing the audience that Chaudhary was a former wrestler, who represented India in the Olympics and also won the Arjuna Award.
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Adityanath also reiterated the logic put forth by Chaudhary and justified the postponement of the Friday namaz by some prominent Muslim clerics in the aftermath of the officer’s remarks. Adityanath said that the officer had “explained with love” that Holi comes once a year while the Friday namaz happens 52 times.
Adityanath thanked all the Muslim religious leaders who announced that keeping in mind Holi celebrations, they would conduct the Friday Namaz prayer after 2 pm.
But Adityanath did not stop here. He went on to question the inevitability of the Friday namaz.
“The namaz can be deferred. It’s not binding that it has to happen,” said Adityanath to loud claps from the audience.
He added, “If someone wants to carry out namaz, they can do it in their homes as well. It’s not necessary that a person has to go to a mosque. If you want to go, then don’t abstain from the colours,” said Adityanath.
Prominent Muslim cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali said keeping in mind the situation, he had issued an advisory to all Muslims and and mosque committees in the state, to postpone the Friday namaz from 12:30-1pm on March 14 by an hour so that those celebrating Holi do not face any problems and those stepping out for namaz also are not inconvenienced.
The cleric also requested Muslims to prefer going to the mosques nearest to them.
This is not the first controversy triggered by Chaudhary. Last year, after violence broke out in Sambhal during a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, he had justified the firing during the incident in which five Muslims were killed.
Chaudhary sprung into news again when he reopened a temple that was lying unused in a Muslim locality. He was seen clearing the dirt and dust from the shivling and an orange idol of Hanuman. He even rang the bell inside the temple, while in uniform.
Earlier this year, he was seen holding a mace, associated with Hanuman, and walking in a Hindu religious procession with his uniform on. The officer was issued a notice for the act.
