A few days after right-wing Hindutva groups harassed Muslims from performing Namaz in Gurgaon, a gurdwara committee, which oversees five gurdwaras in this Haryana district, has come forward to offer its premises for Muslims to offer Namaz.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Sherdil Singh Sidhu, Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha leader at Sabzi Mandi Gurgaon, said five gurdwaras in Sadar Bazar, Sector 39, Sector 46, Model town, and Jacobpura have been opened for Muslims to perform Namaz.
He emphasized that ‘Guru Ghar’ is open for people from all communities to come and pray with no discrimination.
And If the Muslims community is facing problems in praying at designated sites, they can come and offer prayers in the Gurdwara.
Although these gurdwaras can accommodate more than 2,000 people, the committed has proposed that people pray in small batches of 30-40 people and maintain social distancing to prevent Covid-19 spread.
Mufti Mohammad Saleem, president of the Jamiat Ulama in Gurgaon, welcomed this offer by calling it “gracious.” He says that they have met representatives of the Gurdwaras on Wednesday and have decided to pray in Sector 39 and Sadar Bazar starting this Friday.
He added that this is an excellent step and will undoubtedly help promote religious harmony among communities.
Previously a shop owner in Sector 12 named Akshay Yadav had also offered his vacant premises for Namaz, and 15 people had prayed at his shop last week.
Initially promised to uphold the rights of those who offer Namaz on 37 designated sites on Gurugram. However, the Gurugram government has revoked Namaz permission at eight of the 37 designated sites.
On November 2, the district administration stated that appointing a place to pray in the open would only be taken after obtaining approval from the residents. If there were objections elsewhere, permission to pray there would not be granted either.
