Lucknow, 16 July: The ‘Namaz versus Sundarkand’ controversy heated up in Lucknow on Saturday, when police filed an FIR against a group of unidentified persons who reportedly offered namaz at the recently opened Lulu Mall here, after a right-wing Hindu party and asked permission to recite Sundarkand. They were arrested for promoting hatred between various communities and inciting religious emotions.
On Saturday, Section 144 was implemented in the areas surrounding the mall, and cops were deployed as the Hindu organization ‘Karni Sena’ announced it was marching to the mall to recite Sundarkand there.
The previous case was filed on the complaint of Lulu Mall executives, who stated that the people seen in the video were not their employees. On Friday, mall officials posted posters proclaiming across the property, “No religious prayers will be tolerated in the mall.”
“An FIR under IPC Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different communities) and 295-A (deliberate conduct designed to offend religious sentiments) was filed on Thursday against unidentified people,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Gopal Krishna Choudhary. “The situation is being looked into,” he added. Meanwhile, according to reports, three people were detained at the mall for reportedly attempting to recite Sundarkand inside. According to the report, they were detained at the mall’s entry gate and belonged to the Hindu Samaj Party.
The mall was opened by Abu Dhabi-based Lulu Group, founded by Indian-origin billionaire Yussuf Ali MA, and was inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday. Right-wing organizations have reacted strongly to a viral video on social media showing a group of individuals offering namaz in an open space in the mall’s retail arena.
The Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha has issued a warning, stating that if namaz is delivered at the mall again, it will protest by chanting the “Hanuman Chalisa.”
The organization also requested that the Hindu community boycott the mall in a statement made in this respect. According to the Hindu organisation, “love jihad” has been pushed in the mall since its inception. It was reported that 80% of the personnel recruited at the mall belonged to the Muslim community, while the remaining 20% โโwere Hindu girls, allowing for the beginning of love jihad.
According to the statement, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has prohibited namaz and other religious practices in public locations. Regardless, individuals offered namaz at Lulu Mall. Lulu Mall, located on the Amar Shaheed Path in Golf City, has some of India’s top brands. It has various attractions, including the massive LuLu Hypermarket and the Funtura family amusement zone.
