Congress faction slams Uddhav govt's guidelines on Bakri Eid; demand urgent meeting

Ahead of Bakri Eid or Eid al-Adha, a section of Congress leaders from Maharashtra have written to CM Uddhav Thackeray over guidelines issued by state for celebrating festival. CM Thackeray had suggested that upcoming festival should be celebrated in a simple and if possible "symbolic" manner in view of Coronavirus pandemic. 

Former minister and Congress leader Naseem Khan, whose party is a part of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government in state with  Shiv Sena and NCP, has written to Chief Minister to call an urgent meeting of ministers to review guidelines.

'Call for an urgent meeting'

"Our main objection is on two points. First, Qurbani cant be done symbolically and it is impractical for most people to buy goats online. re is concept of symbolic sacrifice of animals in Islam and goats are bought after checking ir size and health conditions which is t possible online. government must issue fresh guidelines as present guidelines interfere in religious affairs of Muslims," a report quoted Khan as saying. 

"We want government to rethink and call for an urgent meeting. This has hurt sentiments," Congress leader said. Party MLA Amin Patel has also objected on guidelines demanding Thackeray government to issue new ones.

As per guidelines, people have been asked to offer Namaz at home instead of mosques and also purchase sacrificial animals online or over phone. state government had also appealed that "Qurbani" or ritual animal sacrifice preferably be done symbolically.

AIMIM MP slams Maharashtra govt

Similarly, All India Majalis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Imtiaz Jaleel, last week, slammed Maharashtra government's guidelines for  festival and demanded that temporary markets be set up for occasion. 

" state government should explain to us what it means by ''symbolic'' sacrifice. state government cant dictate our festivals w. Moreover, when everything else is getting unlocked, why are places of worship still shut?" Jaleel asked. " state government should allow temporary markets. People will take precautions and maintain social distancing," he said, after a meeting with Aurangabad police commissioner. 

festival falls on August 1.

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Maharashtra COVID-19 crisis

Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Sunday reported 9,431 fresh COVID-19 cases taking state's Coronavirus cases tally to 3,75,799, said state health department. As per bulletin released by state health department, re are currently 1,48,601 active cases.

With 6,044 patients discharged on Sunday, total number of discharged patients in state rises to 2,13,238. COVID-19 recovery rate in state stands at 56.74 per cent. As many as 267 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in Maharashtra on Sunday, taking total deaths to 13,656.

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(With ncy inputs)