Chhattisgarh Waqf Board Changes Friday Namaaz Timing for Holi Amid Row, What Congress Said?

The Chhattisgarh Waqf Board has issued an order to change the timing of the afternoon Zuhr Namaaz in mosques during the Holi festival. According to the directive, the prayer is to be offered between 2 PM and 3 PM, instead of the usual time of 1 PM to 2 PM.

In response to this decision, the Congress Party has criticized the Waqf Board, claiming it imposes restrictions on the Muslim community without prior consultation. They argue that any such decision should have involved a meeting with community representatives for discussion.

Chairman of the Chhattisgarh Waqf Board, Salim Raj, explained the rationale behind the order, stating, "On one hand, there is the holy festival of Holi, and on the other hand, the holy month of Ramzan is ongoing, along with Friday prayers. We issued this order to avoid any conflict." He noted that Holi celebrations typically conclude by 1 PM and emphasized the need to prevent any potential unrest or riots.

Raj further warned that failure to comply with the new timing could lead to action against the Mutwalli of the concerned mosque for inciting unrest. He had previously issued a directive in November regarding sermon approvals in mosques.

Chhattisgarh Waqf Board Chairman Salim Raj defended the decision and said, "On one hand, there is the holy festival of Holi, on the other hand, the holy month of Ramzan is going on and then there is the day of Friday prayers. In such a situation, we have issued this order so that there is no conflict."

Hindus and Muslims respect each other's festivals: Cong

The Congress Party has accused Salim Raj of overstepping his authority. Party spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla said, "This has happened many times when Holi has coincided with Ramzan. Generally, Hindus and Muslims respect each other's festivals, and no issues have arisen in the past. The BJP tends to create divisive situations for political gain."

Shukla asserted that Salim Raj is not a religious authority and should not impose such decisions, emphasizing that community discussions are essential for such matters. He criticized the decision as an act of political posturing rather than genuine concern for communal harmony.