UP Police had asked companies and offices in Noida to ensure that their employees don't offer namaz in open public spaces. (Photo: Vikam Sharma)

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Tuesday slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his 'no namaz in Noida parks' order, saying he has created an unsettled situation in the state.

"I don't want to speak much about it but I will just say that Yogi Adityanath has created an unsettled situation in Uttar Pradesh ever since he became the chief minister," he said.

The Uttar Pradesh Police earlier in the day asked companies and offices in Noida's industrial hub to ensure that their employees don't offer namaz in open public spaces, including parks.

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According to a notice issued by the Sector 58 police station, companies located in the industrial area will be held responsible, if Muslim employees are found offering namaz in open public spaces. They have been asked to offer Friday prayers during work hours in mosques, idgahs or inside the premises of the company.

To this end, Sibal added that the Noida police advisory was just one example on Adityanath's poor governance.

"It seems that Uttar Pradesh is facing a disrupting situation under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath," he said.

'Issue should not be politicised’

The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came in Adityanath's defence.

UP BJP spokesperson Dr Chandramohan said that the issue should not be politicised.

"The local administration has taken this decision after complaints from locals. This is being done to avoid law and order issues. Since we have come to power, no incident of riots has happened. We have worked for the development of people belonging to every section of society," he said.

Noida DM BN Singh said that the namaz order was taken out of context.

"Some people had filed an application to offer namaz in a park. The application was signed by hundreds of people. It was the court’s order that permission would be taken to perform any religious activity [in public places]."

"The police only followed its responsibility. This is related to the law and order situation. This is applicable to all religions. Only the ones who take permission would be helped in this regard. We will not let any illegal activity to take place. The newspapers have generalised [only for Muslims] the news which is incorrect," he said.

'Arrangements should be made for our Muslim brothers’

In view of the order, Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson Sunil Yadav appealed to the Noida companies to make arrangements for the Muslims to offer namaz in the office premises.

"If this is not possible then a break should be given to them during working hours so that they can go and offer namaz at a nearby mosque. The people offering prayers at the ground must also be facing issues so it's the responsibility of companies to make such arrangements," he said.

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