From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 26: Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh has strongly justified the Adityamath Yogi government’s order banning Muslims offering Friday prayers (Namaz) in public places.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday, the BJP leader said the Uttar Pradesh government has only told the community members not to hold prayers in public places which would cause inconvenience to the public.

“We are not stopping them from holding Friday prayers, we are not saying you can’t do it,” he said.

Siddharth Nath Singh

Replying to questions on the issue, Siddharth Nath Singh said, “We are not stopping them from holding prayers, we are not saying you cannot do it.”

Uttar Pradesh police have issued notice to private firms, asking them to stop Muslim employees from offering Namaz in a local park has spiralled into a political controversy.

A day after the notice, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government alleging that the UP police would shower petals on Kanwariyas but told the Muslims that whatever they did, 'it was their mistake'.

The Siddharth Nath Singh said the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya will always remain an emotive issue for the party.

"Sadhus and devotees visiting Kumbh Mela 2019 at Prayagraj city in UP wanted construction of the temple,’’ he said.

The Kumbh Mela would be held in next three months (January 15 to March 4).

Siddharth Nath Singh invited Governor Vajubhai Vala for the Mela and said the government would also extend an invitation to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday in Delhi.

The UP Government has set aside Rs 4,200 crore for the event, including infrastructural facilities. UNESCO has declared Kumbh as “Integrated cultural heritage of humanity.’’

Representatives of 192 countries will visit Kumbh in February next, he said.