Srinagar, August 01, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference leader, Agha Ruhullah Mehdi has raised serious questions over the lifting of ban on annual Muharram processions after a gap of thirty years. Agha Ruhullah Mehdi, taking to Twitter, said that the isolated decision, which comes at a time when all religious gatherings across the Kashmir valley had been barred, raises more questions than it answers.
In a thread on his Twitter handle, Ruhullah Mehdi wrote, ”There is list of decisions-taken in circulation, in which, if my reading of this order is correct, the administration has decided to allow the 10th Muharram procession from Abiguzar to Lal Chowk after a gap of 30 years.”
Raising serious doubts over the intentions of the order, he further wrote, “This decision has come at the time when the administration has called off Amarnath yatra. Eid prayers this year were not allowed at Jama Masjid and other important places imposing the Disaster Management Act. Only a few days ago the IGP of Kashmir told people to celebrate Eid “at their homes” invoking Covid protocols. The Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid have not been allowed for the last more than 100 Fridays and continue to be banned, again invoking Covid protocols. The list goes on.”
Asking the administration to lift the curbs on religious gatherings across the Kashmir valley, he said, “To answer those questions and to make it clear that there are no nefarious designs behind this decision, this 10th Muharram procession should be preceded by Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid before this 10th Muharram. Friday prayers before this year’s 10th Muharram should precede. If the Friday prayers and other major religious functions (across all religions) continue to be banned and this particular procession is suddenly encouraged in isolation. In that case, I see nefarious designs behind it.”
Once again asking the people to stay cautious, he appealed, “The people should not fall for this bait and into this trap.” “Therefore the responsibility lies with the administration to come clean. Now that the time for Eid prayer this year has passed. Lift the ban on Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid too, like you suddenly took this decision and prove that there are no nefarious designs,” Ruhulla Mehdi tweeted.
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