MUMBAI: City traffic police have reached out to imams in parts of south Mumbai that have a higher incidence of traffic violations, to spread the message of road safety. The imams have been requested to use congregations, including Friday sermons, to counsel people against violation of traffic rules.
Mohammed Ali Road, J J Marg, Pydhonie and Bhendi Bazaar are among the localities where imams have begun telling people, especially the youth, to follow traffic rules.
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Traffic police’s request to the imams to appeal to the community against traffic rule violations is a welcome step. Violation of traffic rules in some crowded areas of south Mumbai is a perennial problem and it is good that community leaders have taken up the task to counsel the youths to follow traffic rules. It will help reduce the number of accidents and set an example for others to follow.
As part of the ongoing Road Safety Month, DCP (traffic) Yogesh Gupta met a group of imams in south Mumbai on Thursday. “We want motorists to self-discipline rather than follow the rules out of fear of the police department,” said Gupta. “We have spoken to prominent residents of these areas to spread the message and also to imams so they can address people whenever they gather at mosques to pray. The target group are the youth as they are involved the most in traffic violations. We have requested imams to speak about desisting from speeding, signal jumping and rash driving, the most common complaints. Youths will be egged to wear helmets,” he said. Traffic police added the message is for all residents and not one community.
Maulana Aijaz Kashmiri, imam of Handiwali Masjid in Bhendi Bazaar, said he and many other imams used Friday sermons to reach out to people with the message that they should follow traffic rules. “It is in their interest and for the safety of others that traffic rules are followed. We have also told traffic police that they should not be lenient in punishing traffic violations,” Maulana Kashmiri said.
Senior cleric Maulana Moin Ashraf Quadri (Moin Mian) said he too would call a meeting of imams soon and request them to speak on the importance of adhering to the traffic rules. “Islam is against anything that harms people,” he said.