Union Minister for Minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday urged that the entire Muslim community should not be painted with the same brush for the fault of some who did not obey the lockdown guidelines in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic in the country.
The entire Muslim community cannot be held responsible for one group's "crime", the Minister said while reacting to instances of Muslims being blamed for the spurt in Covid-19 cases after the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, and affirmed that most of the minority community members have condemned the group's action.
He said the community cannot be blamed for a few isolated cases of violation of the lockdown norms or the rule of law. “ By and large all are following rules,” he said. The Minister, though, agreed that ‘Jaamat’ did flout rules by allowing large number of people, including foreigners, to gather at one place.
The Minister said across India, Imams, Ulema and Muslim organizations have unanimously decided that during ‘Ramzan’ , Muslims will not congregate in mosques, religious places and perform all rituals like 'Iftaar' (breaking of fast) and 'taraweeh' (special prayers) at home keeping in mind social distancing norms.
Naqvi said he has spoken with state waqf board officials, social and religious leaders, imams on adherence to the lockdown and social distancing guidelines during the Ramzan month starting Friday or Saturday evening and they have begun creating awareness among the people.
Naqvi’s comments in support of Muslim community have come in the backdrop of charges of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that Muslims were being “discriminated” in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic in India. The OIC had asked India Government to protect Muslims and contain an alleged surge of “Islamophobia”.
Soon after the OIC statement, the Minister had said that Minorities’ rights in India were protected by the Constitution and secularism and social harmony was “a passion” in India and not “a political fashion” in the country.
In a message to Indian Muslims, Naqvi had this week cited guidelines issued by all the Muslim countries for Coronavirus lockdown, particularly the “social distancing” norms, which would prevail throughout the holy month of ‘Ramzan’, beginning Friday.
Several bodies representing the Muslim community including the Islamic Centre of India and the Delhi Waqf Board have also appealed for daily prayers during
Ramazan to be held at home and asked mosques to create awareness about official guidelines to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
According to an advisory by Waqf Boards, people should stay at their homes to offer Namaz during Ramzan, however, Imams, Muazzins and Mutawallis can offer the prayers at mosques.
Mosques will announce the guidelines after each ‘Azaan’ and also at other times through loudspeakers.