Mumbai: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee State President Harsh Vardhan Sapkal and State Working President and former Minister Mohammad Arif Naseem Khan, while addressing a joint press conference, strongly condemned the new circular issued by the state police regarding the use of loudspeakers at religious places and demanded its immediate cancellation.

In this press conference held at Tilak Bhawan, Arif Naseem Khan said that the ruling BJP government in Maharashtra is deliberately inciting religious sentiments to divert the attention of the people from public issues like inflation, unemployment, farmers’ plight, industrial decline and the deteriorating law and order situation. He said that the latest circular issued by the police regarding the use of loudspeakers in mosques is not only a violation of constitutional rights but also a step affecting the peaceful atmosphere of the state.

Naseem Khan recalled that in 2022, the court had given clear instructions for the use of loudspeakers at religious places that they can be used within a certain sound limit from 6 am to 10 pm. But now the police have issued a new circular on May 11, which has made it mandatory to have a construction plan approval, property card and confirmation from local bodies for installing loudspeakers in places of worship. He strongly criticized this circular, saying that this move is a blatant interference in religious affairs by the police, which is against the constitutionally granted freedom of religion.

Naseem Khan said that this is a step reflecting a communal mindset which is not possible without the tacit approval of the state government. He strongly demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis immediately issue an order to cancel this unconstitutional and provocative circular, so that the anxiety and distrust spreading among the people can be addressed.

After the press conference, Muhammad Arif Naseem Khan also inspected the Deonar slaughterhouse in view of Eid-ul-Adha. On this occasion, he held detailed discussions with the slaughterhouse officers, administration representatives, sacrificial animal traders and buyers. He obtained information about the sale and purchase of animals, cleanliness, water supply, lighting, traffic control, token system and other facilities and strictly instructed the officers to resolve all the problems faced by the public and traders on priority basis. Naseem Khan said that millions of people are involved in the sacrificial festival and even a minor negligence of the administration can create big problems. Therefore, the concerned institutions should perform their duties with full diligence and sensitivity. He stressed that the government should not only provide facilities during religious festivals but also avoid unnecessary restrictions and official actions while respecting religious sentiments.

In Nanded, Maharashtra, Bajrang Dal goons have threatened Muslims with weapons in the area so that Muslims do not sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha, which is a threat to the state’s atmosphere and there is also a fear of communal violence. In such a situation, the police and administration should take strict action to maintain law and order and curb the miscreants because terrorism by Bajrang Dal goons is on the rise here.

To ensure law and order in the Degulur taluka of Dharmabad district of Nanded district of the state, state Chief Minister and Police Chief DGP have been demanded by MLA and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi to take action against sectarians and miscreants. Azmi has made a serious allegation that Bajrang Dal workers are patrolling the Dharmabad area with weapons and are threatening Muslims and trying to intimidate and spoil the atmosphere so that they do not sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha, and Hindu extremists have warned Muslims not to sacrifice. Abu Asim Azmi has also sent a letter to the Chief Minister and DGP, demanding immediate intervention from the administration in this matter.

He has said in the letter that a local from Dharmaabad, Sheikh Lal Ahmed, has informed him about the mischief of the miscreants. He has alleged that the miscreants of Bajrang Dal are instructing not to offer sacrifices on Eid-ul-Adha and are also threatening Muslims. He said that the terrorism of Bajrang Dal and RSS should be banned and action should be taken against those who spoil the environment so that peace and security is maintained in Dharmaabad on Eid-ul-Adha. Azmi has appealed that strict police security arrangements be made in Dharmaabad on Eid-ul-Adha so that social harmony is maintained and Muslims can celebrate their festival peacefully.

Mumbai: The Mumbai GauSeva Ayog has withdrawn its controversial order to keep cattle markets closed from June 3 to June 8 until Eid-ul-Adha. It has only said that it should be ensured that there is no slaughter of prohibited animals during the sacrifice. After a meeting of Muslim representatives along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister had issued an order to withdraw the circular, after which the Gau Seva Ayog has withdrawn its controversial circular and order. This circular had said that animal markets in all districts of the state should be closed till June 8 to prohibit cow slaughter on Eid-ul-Adha. Muslims opposed this and during the meeting of Muslim representatives, the Chief Minister had announced the withdrawal of this order. Therefore, the GauSeva Ayog has officially withdrawn the circular and instead issued a new circular, which has lifted the ban on animal markets. Along with this, strict implementation of the cow slaughter law has also been demanded.

The state government is responsible for implementing the cow slaughter law and the police and administration are ready for it, but after the GauSeva Aayog issued such a controversial circular, Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Rais Sheikh had declared it illegal and said that the circular issued is completely illegal and controversial, while the Aayog has no authority to issue orders, it can only make recommendations. In such a situation, after the order of the Chief Minister, now animal markets will continue during the sacrifice period and there is no ban on the market of buffaloes including goats, therefore Muslims have been appealed not to pay attention to rumors.

Deonar Slaughterhouse General Manager Kaleem Pathan also said that the Deonar Goat Market will continue and the order issued by the Gau Seva Aayog has been withdrawn, so the public should not pay attention to rumors about the Deonar Goat Market. He said that along with the facilities in the Goat Market in Deonar, arrangements have been made for the convenience of buyers. Along with stalls, other facilities are also available here. He said that more than 150,000 goats have arrived in the Deonar Goat Market and along with this, more than 80,000 goats are left.