All mosques in the State to take Waqf Board’s permission before presenting their topics after Friday-prayers : Order by Chhattisgarh Waqf Board

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) – Waqf Board will keep a watch on the speeches and discussions held in mosques in the State after their Friday-prayers. The permission of the Waqf Board will now be required for deciding the matters to be discussed. Maulanas of the respective mosques will be able to speak on the approved topic only after obtaining the prior permission. Chhattisgarh will be the first State in the country to keep a watch on the topics discussed in mosques on Fridays.

All mosques in Chhattisgarh are under the control of the State Waqf Board. The new President of Waqf Board has issued the order under his management. It has been stated in the order that the topics to be discussed after Friday-namaz by maulanas would have to be first approved by the Waqf Board.

‘WhatsApp’ group of mosque followers

Waqf Board has set up a ‘WhatsApp’ group of all chiefs of mosques in the State for managing this new system. In this group, every mosque manager will have to declare the topic of his speech he plans to take up after Friday-namaz. It will also be necessary to include the caption of the topic in his post. An officer appointed by the Waqf Board will check the caption and the topic. Only after his permission, will maulana be able to give a speech on that topic in mosques. Discord has been reported among the main mosque committees in the city. Mohammad Ali Faruqui, the city-Kazi, stated that interference by Waqf Boards in the timings of madarasas and mosques and festivals is inappropriate. It will be the mosque committees’ prerogative to decide whether to accept or refuse Waqf Board’s orders.

Registration of charges on infringement of orders – Waqf Board

Salim Raj, Waqf Board President stated that most of the speeches are related to social issues; however, a few speeches are inciting and sensitive. During the Congress’ Rule, riots were staged at Kawardha, due to the speech given after Friday-namaz. All mosque-managers have been accordingly, asked to follow the new instructions and management from the coming Friday. Speeches should encourage social harmony and not be political. Waqf Board can file a case against mosque-managers and maulanas in case of infringement of Waqf Board’s orders since Waqf Board has been authorised to do so under the law.

Editorial Perspective

It is, in fact, necessary that the Police not only keep a vigil on the speeches given in every mosque but also on the daily activities carried out there.