Dehradun: Political debate has intensified in the state following Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s statement against offering namaz on roads. Reactions from members of the Muslim community and related organizations have now also emerged. Several Muslim leaders emphasized maintaining social balance and order, stating that namaz should be offered only inside mosques and Eidgahs.
Recently, CM Dhami had said that no religious activity should cause inconvenience to the general public. Roads are meant for public movement, and traffic disruptions create difficulties for people.
Following the statement, Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams supported the Chief Minister’s remarks, saying the issue should be viewed not only politically but also from religious and social perspectives. He stated that Islam teaches followers not to inconvenience others during worship.
He added that during Eid and Friday prayers, overcrowding in mosques and Eidgahs sometimes leads people to offer namaz on roads. However, this causes inconvenience to the public, traffic jams, and at times even ambulances get stuck.
Shadab Shams said that roads are not appropriate places for worship due to dust, dirt, and vehicle movement. Namaz should be offered in clean and organized spaces. He also suggested that prayers could be conducted in multiple shifts if necessary to avoid overcrowding and disorder.
Mohammad Shah Nazar, State Media In-charge of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, also said that the organization had already clarified that namaz should be offered only inside mosques and Eidgahs. He noted that only a few places in Uttarakhand face space shortages, and efforts would be made to improve arrangements there as well.
He said that if required, prayers could be conducted in two shifts to avoid traffic or law-and-order issues. Islam, he said, promotes peace, discipline, and consideration for others, and therefore social responsibility should also be maintained during religious events.
Meanwhile, ahead of Bakrid, Jamiat Ulema also appealed to the Muslim community to maintain law, cleanliness, and social harmony. During a meeting held at Madrasa Dar-e-Arkam in Azad Colony, Dehradun, people were urged to perform animal sacrifice only at designated and lawful places and avoid doing so on roads, lanes, or public spaces.
The organization also appealed to people not to share photos or videos of sacrifices on social media and advised them to stay away from rumors and provocative statements. In case of any dispute, people were asked to inform the administration and police immediately.
During the meeting, a decision was also taken to launch an awareness campaign in Uttarakhand supporting the demand to declare the cow as the national animal.
