Naqvi tells wakf boards to ensure strict implementation of lockdown during Ramadan

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 16

Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Chairman of the Central Waqf Council Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday interacted with chairmen and senior officials of more than 30 state waqf boards, directing them to ensure strict and honest implementation of lockdown, curfew and social distancing during the holy month of Ramadan which starts from April 24 in view of coronavirus pandemic. 

Asking them to remain cautious of any type of fake news and conspiracies aimed at creating misinformation, Naqvi directed waqf boards’ officials to create awareness among the people to offer prayers and perform other religious rituals during the holy month of Ramadan staying inside their home.

“The authorities have been working for safety and well-being of all citizens of the country without any discrimination. Such type of rumours and conspiracies are a nefarious design to weaken the fight against corona. We should work united to win this fight against corona by defeating any type of rumour, misinformation and conspiracy,” he said.

Notably more than seven lakh registered mosques, eidgah, imambada, dargah and other religious, social institutions come under the state waqf boards across the country.

The Central Waqf Council is the regulatory body of state waqf boards in India.

Interacting via video conferencing, Naqvi said, “We should cooperate with health workers, security forces, administrative officers, sanitation workers; they are working for our safety and well-being even by putting their own life at risk in this corona pandemic. 

“We should also demolish rumours and misinformation being spread about quarantine and isolation centres by creating awareness among the people that such centres are only meant to protect the people, their families and the society from the corona pandemic.”

Naqvi asked the officials of all the state waqf boards to play an active and effective role to ensure that the people follow the guidelines of the Home Ministry, state governments and the Central Waqf Council strictly and honestly while fulfilling religious responsibilities during the holy month of Ramadan staying inside their home.

“In view of the challenges of corona pandemic, all the religious-social activities and mass gathering in all the temples, gurdwaras, churches and other religious and social places of the country have been stopped. Similarly, any mass gathering in all mosques and other Muslim religious places of the country has also been stopped,” he said.

“Due to the corona pandemic, the religious leaders and religious and social organisations from all regions of the country, have appealed to the people to offer prayers and perform all other religious rituals staying inside their home during the holy month of Ramadan and strictly follow the guidelines of lockdown and social distancing. Most of the Muslim nations of the world have also banned mass gathering at mosques and other religious places during the holy month of Ramadan,” the union minister added.

We should also pray that India and the entire world get rid of corona pandemic, he said.