MUMBAI: Representatives of over a dozen
Muslim groups met and decided on Wednesday to defer the Eid-e-Milad juloos or processions to September 29. The decision to postpone the processions by a day was taken to avoid trouble as Anant Chaturdashi marked by visarjan or immersion also falls on September 28.
The decision was taken at a meeting at Khilafat House in Byculla. Led by senior cleric Maulana Moin Ashraf Qadri (Moin Mian), the meeting decided that there would be no problem if the juloos is postponed by a day in the interest of peace and harmony even though Eid-e-Milad falls on September 28.
“Our holy Prophet taught us to avoid clashes and be pragmatic in decisions in all walks of life. Given the situation in the country and considering the overwhelming view in the community, it is decided that we will hold the Eid-e-Milad procession on September 29,” said Moin Mian.
Joint commissioner of police (law and order) Satya Narayan Chaudhary said the decision has not been officially communicated to him, but he welcomes it. “It is good that the Muslim community has decided to hold Eid-e-Milad processions a day after visarjan. This will help reduce inconvenience to the public. Our priority is to maintain law and,” he said.
The meeting was attended by former minister and Congress leader Arif Naseem Khan, Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh and NCP spokesperson Naseem Siddiqui.
“Muslims eagerly await the arrival of the holy Prophet’s birthday. We must maintain the decorum and dignity of the juloos of Eid-e-Milad and avoid playing DJs. There are forces which want to create trouble and we must avoid clashes with any other group,” said Khan, who heads a massive Eid-e-Milad procession in the eastern suburbs. He also said he would try to convince the state government to declare a holiday on September 29.
“We will follow the decision of the ulema,” said Shaikh, MLA from Bhiwandi, adding that a procession on September 29 suits Bhiwandi because the textile town will anyway be mostly shut on Friday (September 29).