All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Lok Sabha member Imtiaz Jaleel has condemned the guidelines set by the Maharashtra government for the upcoming Bakr-e-Eid. In an interview with The Daily Guardian, the Aurangabad MP demanded that the state open mosques and allow temporary markets, and threatened to flout the restrictions if they are not reviewed.
The Uddhav Thackerayled government has released specific guidelines for the celebration of Bakr-e-Eid on 31 July and 1 August, keeping in mind the Covid-19 pandemic. The guidelines include a call for Muslims to offer namaaz at home, purchase animals online or over the phone, and carry out sacrifices “symbolically”. Jaleel has demanded that the state define “symbolic” sacrifices and explain why it has imposed such diktats on the celebration of Eid. Jaleel further questioned why places of worship in the state were still closed with stricter restrictions in place for Muslims. “If liquor shops have been opened, then why is the state imposing restrictions on our religious beliefs?” he asked.
Jaleel also challenged the foundation stone laying in Ayodhya scheduled for 5 August. “Why is our festival being targeted if the Prime Minister can do this during the pandemic? If he can’t carry out a virtual stone laying, then we can’t abide by such rules either”, said Jaleel. He further added that Muslims have already observed the month of Ramzan at home and will not tolerate the government’s “step-motherly approach” any further.
State-issued guidelines for Bakri Eid were also criticised by Samajwadi Party MP Shafiq-ur-Rahman Barq, who expressed his disapproval of the ban on gathering in public and purchasing animals in Uttar Pradesh. However, Barq told The Daily Guardian that he will follow the directives laid down by the state government.