By Our special Correspondent

PUNE, JULY 27—All India Muslim Ittehadul Muslimin (AIMIM) MP from Aurangabad Imtiaz Jaleel has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to visit Ayodhya for temple ‘bhoomipoojan’ in August during the time when the country is facing unprecedented coronavirus crisis.

Jaleel referred to the PM while he was reacting to the Maharashtra government’s appeal to the Muslims to offer symbolic ‘Qurbani’ during Bakrid.  Imtiaz Jaleel is one of the most vociferous and educated Muslim parliamentarian from Maharashtra who has been raising issues of Muslim empowerment and social justice ever since he joined politics.

“We want opening of all religious places of worship for Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and all other communities in the state. The Maharashtra State Government has appealed for symbolic Qurbani, then why is PM Modi going to Ayodhya during coronacrisis? We are not against the temple and respect the verdict of Supreme Court. But coronavirus pandemic should be given priority in such hard times”, he said.

PM Modi is scheduled to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony at Ayodhya on August 5 in presence of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Jaleel explained, “We have already celebrated Eid in Ramzan in house. Why can’t the PM wait and later he can do it with fanfare. Coronavirus is still there in the country, then why is going to Ayodhya. Does it mean that there is an understanding between corona and the PM that it will not reach Ayodhya during the visit and promised that it will not do anything on August 5? Doesn’t the PM know what the priorities of the country should be? Even if the priorities are not known, then how does it befit the government to impose its rules on the people which is very ridiculous,” he said.

Jaleel said that post lockdown, markets had opened but religious places are shut. “In August, many festivals like Bakrid, Shravan, Ganapati, Moharram etc are scheduled to be celebrated. All these religious places must be opened for worship for all the communities with strict instructions like social distancing and other safeguards. What is the state government’s directive of symbolic sacrifice during Bakrid which is like a dictatorial ‘firman’? We celebrated Ramzan inside the house and the entire Hindu community celebrated its festivals inside the house during the lockdown period. People have faith in their respective religions and religious places have to be opened with conditions attached like other establishments being opened by the state”, he said.

Jaleel said that Muslim elected representatives did not question the government regarding the directive of symbolic Bakrid which shows that they don’t have a questioning mindset which is a cause of concern for the community. He reiterated, “PM must know that fighting COVID crisis is the need of the hour. If he has the rights to do what he wants, then we too have our rights,” he commented.