Govt order over ‘Surya Namaskar’ unacceptable: MMU

Srinagar, Jan 14: Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), the amalgam of religious organisations in J&K, said that it has taken strong exception to the government order, asking students, faculty members and staff of all colleges in J&K to compulsorily participate in the Hindu religious practice of ‘Surya Namaskar’ on a religious festival being observed today.

In a statement, MMU said that the authorities are well aware that J&K is a Muslim majority state, and Muslims will not-like people of other religions won’t participate in religious practices of other religions. To deliberately force them to do so by issuing directives is mischievous, it said.

MMU said that the rulers should be clear that this is completely unacceptable to the Muslims of the state who will never yield to such highhandedness. It said that Muslims of J&K are respectful of all religions and believe in harmonious coexistence but will never yield to any pressure, if and when there is any interference in matters related to their faith.

It said that it is quite sad and tells about the sorry state of affairs pervading India, that while the religious practice of one religion gets promoted and imposed in the name of peace, that of the other gets banned and barred in the name of threat; referring to the repeated lockdown by authorities of the central Jamia Masjid Srinagar where obligatory Friday prayers are not allowed for months now.

“And the disruptions caused to Friday prayers in Gurgaon by goons having a free run. The recent open call to genocide of Muslims of India by a religious conference in Haridwar and the silence of the state in this regard is a shocking case of bigotedness and discrimination against Muslims which has become the order of the day in today’s India.”

MMU said that Muslims of J&K at no cost are not going to give in to the diktats of the Government -despite all power that the state may command, when it comes to matters of their religious faith. It asked the Government to desist in future from issuing such orders.

The organisations which are part of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema include Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, Darul Uloom Raheemiyah , Jamaith Ahli Hadees, Mufti Azam’s Muslim Personal Law Board, Anjuman-e-Shari’a Shiaan, Karwani Islami, Ittihadul Muslimeen, Darul Uloom Bilalia, Anjuman Tableegul Islam, Anjuman Himayaul Islam, Anjuman Nusratul Islam, Anjuman Mazharul Haq, Jamiat ul Aima Wa Ulema, Anjuman Imam Wa Mashaikh Kashmir, Darul Uloom Naqshbandia, Darul Uloom Rasheediya, Ahlul Bayt Foundation, Madrasa Kanz Ul Uloom, Pervaan-e-Wilayat, Auqaf Islamia, Muhammadi Trust, Anjuman Anwar ul Islam, Kaarvaan e Khatm e Naboowat and others