Mumbai: BMC Samajwadi Party (SP) councillor Rais Shaikh has demanded a designated spot to offer namaz at the civic headquarters. He recently wrote to Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, stating, “There are several corporators and civic officers from the Muslim community. They have to offer namaz five times a day. Since, there is no dedicated place in BMC, they are facing inconvenience.” He has said if they are allotted a specific spot, their problems will be resolved, otherwise they must keep stepping out every few hours.
The request by Shaikh contradicts the State government notification, which states no public organisation or institution can have a prayer house on the premises. The rule was made by government, as people from all communities visit public institutions for work, where officials serve people, it should not be the prayer house of a particular religion.
Shaikh has previously made similar demands, asking BMC to distribute 22 different items to schoolchildren, including scarves for Urdu medium schoolgirls. He has also courted controversy for his objection to compulsory Surynamaskar in BMC schools as “Doing Suryanamaskar was worshipping the Sun, a Hindu god, as the Muslim community only allows the worship of Allah.” Also, Shaikh had objected to singing Vande Mataram.