Mumbai, June 2: The debate over offering namaz on public roads has resurfaced in Maharashtra after senior BJP leader and former Member of Parliament Kirit Somaiya demanded a complete ban on the practice in Mumbai, triggering a fresh political confrontation with Samajwadi Party leaders.

In a letter dated June 2, addressed to Mumbai’s Municipal Commissioner and Police Commissioner, Somaiya described the offering of namaz on roads and public spaces as a “serious problem” that requires immediate intervention from civic and law enforcement authorities.

According to Somaiya, prayers are regularly conducted outside railway stations and on busy roads, particularly on Friday afternoons, resulting in traffic congestion and disruption to public movement. He alleged that the practice can cause traffic delays lasting up to an hour and adversely affects the daily routine of commuters and residents.

“No group has the right to disrupt public infrastructure on a working day in the name of religion,” Somaiya stated, urging the Mumbai Police, Traffic Police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take responsibility and impose a strict ban on street prayers.

The BJP leader also referred to judicial rulings that restrict religious, cultural and political activities in public spaces such as playgrounds and gardens. He argued that permitting prayers on roads creates an undesirable precedent and undermines the principle of equal application of the law.

The demand, however, drew a sharp response from Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi, who accused Somaiya of adopting a selective approach towards the use of public spaces for religious activities.

“Muslims have never demanded a ban on religious events held on roads by other communities,” Azmi said. “Mosques are often overcrowded and the timing of namaz is fixed. Offering prayers is compulsory for Muslims, and some people are therefore compelled to pray on roads. The prayers usually do not take more than ten minutes.”

Azmi maintained that singling out namaz while permitting other religious functions on public roads would amount to discrimination. He argued that if authorities choose to prohibit one form of religious activity on roads, the same standard should be applied to all communities.

Meanwhile, in a separate development linked to Somaiya’s complaints regarding alleged encroachments, an unauthorised dargah known as Hazrat Sayyad Pir Baba in Aarey Milk Colony, Goregaon, was demolished on Tuesday.

The action followed a complaint filed by Somaiya, who had earlier alleged that illegal structures were being erected within Aarey Colony and the adjoining Sanjay Gandhi National Park under the guise of a religious institution.

Mumbai: Sakinaka Police have uncovered a drug factory in which MDs were being manufactured. The main accused in the case, Wajah Al-Qamar Chaudhary (54), has been arrested. Accused Muskan Sameer, 26, was arrested in Andheri area on May 21 with 101 grams of MD. She was also a self-styled Ola driver. Her accused was Wajah Al-Qamar and she used to meet him in the club. In this case, the police investigated and exposed the MD factory. Wajah Al-Qamar Abolfaz Chaudhary alias Papa used to run an MD factory here and both used to sell drugs in suburban areas including Mumbai. Wajah Al-Qamar Chaudhary used to make MD in a rented house in Narmada, Gujarat. This information was given here today by DCP Datta Nalawade. He said that the police have unmasked a big network and seized drugs worth more than Rs 75 lakh including the equipment for making MD. This is also a big success. He said that in this case, the investigation is also underway to find out who had provided the house for rent and how many people the accused were in contact with. In the initial investigation, it has been found that the drug trafficking of the accused is a racket. The accused here in Mumbai is named Ola. She used to run a drug racket, but her main work was drug smuggling, while Wajah Al-Qamar Chaudhary also has a case of drug trafficking registered in the DRI. In 2001, 232 grams of drugs were found in her possession in Palghar. In 2001, he was imprisoned in Moradabad Jail and was imprisoned for 11 years. He was also in the police station jail from 2017 to 2023. He used to operate a drug network and Muskan was his partner in this work. After arresting Muskan from Andheri, the police have exposed this drug racket. The police are investigating the matter further. There is a possibility of more arrests.

Mumbai: To provide a suitable market for the produce of the fishermen in the state and to provide clean and nutritious seafood to the urban foodies, ‘Matsya Pav’ will now be made available in major cities of the state including Mumbai. This unique “Matsya Pav Mobile Food Van” scheme will be implemented based on the concept of Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane, and a detailed proposal in this regard has been sent to the government for approval. This will create new employment opportunities in urban areas. Under this ambitious scheme, ‘Matsya Pav’, ‘Matsya Vada Pav’, shrimp pav and various other delicious fish products will be sold through specially designed mobile food vans. The estimated cost of this mobile food van project is around Rs 12.50 lakhs, and the main objective of this scheme is to generate decent employment for unemployed youth, women’s self-help groups and fish producing organisations in the state.

Hand gloves and gumboot scheme for women fishermen

A major decision has been taken under the Chief Minister’s Fisheries Scheme for the safety and health of women fishermen working in fish markets. Free gloves, gumboots and other protective equipment will be distributed to 500 women workers to enhance cleanliness, safety and processing efficiency in fish markets of Mumbai. A special training programme will also be implemented for this through ‘ICAR-CIFT’, and the entire project is expected to cost around Rs 30.69 lakh.

Separate policy on ambergris

The meeting discussed in detail the issue of ‘ambergris’ (fish vomit), which is considered highly sensitive with regard to marine biodiversity and coastal security. Minister Nitesh Rane directed to prepare a joint action plan in collaboration with the Forest Department, Coast Guard, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Fisheries Department to stop the smuggling of this valuable substance and create awareness among the fishermen. Along with this, a proposal to set up a ‘Marine Fisherman Welfare and Resilience Fund’ for the welfare of fishermen in coastal areas was also presented in this meeting.