Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament from Sambhal, Ziaur Rahman Barq, has strongly opposed the demand of restricting the members of a particular community from doing business in the Maha Kumbh area in Prayagraj.
He cautioned that such a move could fuel tension between communities.
Recently, the All India Akhada Parishad announced to restrict non-Sanatani shopkeepers, including Muslims, from setting up stalls at the Maha Kumbh venue, drawing sharp criticism from various quarters.
Ziaur Rahman Barq expressed deep concern over the Akhada Parishad’s decision to bar Muslim vendors from participating in the upcoming Maha Kumbh. He urged the government to act against those promoting such divisive actions.
“If Muslims are excluded from the Maha Kumbh, it will only lead to similar actions at Muslim religious gatherings. We do not want this,” he stated.
Barq called for swift government intervention to prevent what he described as a dangerous trend.
The parliamentarian emphasised the need for the Yogi Adityanath-led government to intervene and take strict measures against such directives. He warned that allowing one community to exclude another could set a precedent, leading to similar retaliatory actions.
“If this continues, tomorrow Muslim gatherings could also ban Hindu participation. This is not the path we should be taking,” he said.
The parliamentarian criticised what he viewed as a disregard for the Indian Constitution. “It is unfortunate that such divisive attitudes persist in our society,” he stated, expressing disappointment in the government’s silence on the matter. Barq claimed that the lack of action indicates tacit support for communal divides, which contradicts constitutional values. “If the government truly respects the Constitution, it must act decisively to stop such practices,” he added.
He cautioned that if these exclusionary practices continue, they could quickly spread beyond the Maha Kumbh.
“Brotherhood within our communities is essential. If traditions like these become normalised, then restrictions will emerge on both sides. Today it is Hindu society starting this; tomorrow, it could be Muslim society,” he noted, urging immediate corrective action to prevent further divisions.
