Srinagar, Aug 01:
Former Member of Legislative Assembly Jammu Kashmir Aga Ruhullah Mehdi questions government’s decision to allow Muharram Processions after a gap of 3 decades at a time when all other religious practices are banned.
As per news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC), in a series of tweets Mehdi said, "There is list of decisions-taken in circulation, in which, if my reading of this order is correct, the administration has decided to allow the 10th Muharram procession from Abiguzar to Lal Chowk (a temporary & alternate route proposed in 2018) after a gap of 30 years."
Mehdi wrote "This decision has come at the time when the Administration has called off Amarnath yatra. Eid prayers this year were not allowed at Jama Masjid & other important places imposing the Disaster Management Act."
He said "Only few days ago the IGP Kmr told people to celebrate Eid “at their homes” invoking Covid protocols. The Friday prayers at Jama Masjid have not been allowed for the last more than 100 Fridays & continue to be banned, again invoking Covid 19 protocols. The list goes on."
"Given the fact that all other major religious gatherings (with no exception to any particular religion) continues to be banned. This sudden isolated decision about 10th Moharram procession from Abiguzar to Lal Chowk,after a gap of 30 years, raises more questions than it answers." he wrote.
Mehdi saw nefarious designs in allowing the Muharram procession as all other religious practices including Amarnath Yatra is banned "If the Friday prayers and other major religious functions (across all religions) continue to be banned and this particular procession suddenly encouraged in isolation. In that case, I see nefarious designs behind it. People should not fall for this bait and into this trap," he said.
He asked government to come clean and allow Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar."To answer those questions and to make it clear that there are no nefarious designs behind this decision, the admin must allow Friday prayers before this year’s 10th Moharram would precede."
