Congress drags RSS into Namaz controversy, demands unauthorised Shakhas be banned in UP

Days after the Uttar Pradesh police issued directives asking the Noida-based companies to order their Muslim employees to not offer Namaz in open spaces like parks and public gathering areas, Congress party has issued a letter urging the police to ban the public activities of Shakas of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) in the state. 

In the letter, the UP Congress committee has stated,

"There are many government-based and non-government institutions working in the country today. There are many unauthorised Shakhas of the Sangh(RSS) that are functioning in the country without due permission and they are influencing people. With the medium of this letter, we request you to curtail the activities and functioning of any such institutions as soon as possible so that UP can be made safe and secured."

Here's the letter:

READ: It's Owaisi Versus Yogi: AIMIM Chief Issues 3-point Argument Against Uttar Pradesh Police's Companies-Namaz-accountability Directive

Earlier on December 25, a notice was issued by the UP police which stated that the companies will be held accountable should a person be found offering Namaz in public places.

Amid the controversy in the matter, Congress had also swiped at the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh. Senior party leader Kapil Sibal, while speaking to the media had said,

"Since Yogi became the CM, he has created a tense atmosphere. This is only one of the several instances, but since he took charge, it seems the state is going through an uneasy situation. Till the time there is no peace in an area, there cannot be progress. And if there is no progress, people will not get the relief."

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also lashed out and claimed religious discrimination over the UP Police's directive to companies in Noida. 

Taking to Twitter, the Lok Sabha MP from Telangana contrasted the order with the UP Police's handling of Kanwariyas, highlighting how rose petals were showered on Kanwar pilgrims whereas in the case of Muslims, offering "Namaz once a week can mean disrupting peace and harmony." 

READ: UP Police Issues Directives Ordering No Offering Of Namaz In Open Spaces