Karnataka govt issues guidelines for mosques during Ramadhan; details here
Iftar arrangement at mosques prohibited
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Tuesday issued advisory and guidelines in the wake of the commencement of the holy month of Ramadhan and a steep increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The circular issued by the state government added that mosques in containment zones shall remain closed till the zone is notified and those outside containment zones are allowed to open up.
People above the age of 60 years with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below 10 years are advised to stay at home.
“The steep increase in the number of COVID-19 cases daily calls for strict compliances of COVID Appropriate Behavior (CAB), especially during the upcoming month of Ramazan and the concerned rituals, during which the people tend to congregate in large numbers. The following guidelines are issued herewith for strict compliance in the larger interest of the public health” the circular added.
“The preventive measures include simple public health measures that are to be followed to reduce the risk of COVID-19. These measures need to be observed by all persons” it added.
People at mosques that are open shall maintain a distance of 2 meters (6 feet) at all times while large gatherings and congregation continue to remain prohibited. Specific markings on the floor shall also be made to manage the queue.
The mosques have been urged to make arrangements of imams for one or more Jamath as per the strength of Musallies while Juma Namaz timing is to be notified as under 12:45 to 1:15 pm, 1:30 to 2:00 pm, and 2:30 to 3:00 pm.
Makhtab, Madarasas, or religious classes inside the mosques are also prohibited. The iftar arrangements at the mosques are also prohibited and people are advised to break their fasts at home and come to mosques only for prayers. Similarly, the Taraweeh is also advised to be held under proper precautionary measures and in two Jamaths if possible.
People are also advised to perform Taharath and Wazu (ablution) at their homes and come to mosques. Using of face masks is also mandatory. A trained volunteer is also urged to perform thermal screening at entry and people having a temperature of more than 37.5 C or 99.5 F or symptoms of cough, cold, throat pain, and difficulty in breathing shall not be allowed inside and referred to seek medical consultation.
Common prayer mats shall be avoided and devotees shall bring their own prayer mat or piece of cloth which they shall take back with them.
The circular also added that the management committee is responsible to ensure that these guidelines are strictly adhered to. Every masjid shall form a COVID-19 safety committee to implement and monitor the guidelines mentioned in the circular.
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Attempt to shield 'infiltrators': BJP ahead of Cong's rally against 'vote theft'
New Delhi (PTI): Ahead of the Congress' rally over the "vote theft" issue, the BJP on Sunday alleged that the main opposition party was holding the event in its bid to "protect infiltrators" from being removed from the electoral rolls.
The ruling BJP asserted that the Congress will not succeed in its design of misleading people as well as "insulting and defaming" constitutional institutions, because the entire world knows that India's democracy is "very robust".
Stepping up its campaign against the alleged "vote theft" by the BJP in elections, the Congress has organised a rally at the Ramlila Maidan here on Sunday that will be attended by the party's top leaders, including general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, and Sachin Pilot.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi are expected to address the gathering. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also likely to be present at the event.
Ahead of the event, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Congress was holding the rally even as Union Home Minister Amit Shah "exposed" the opposition through his point-by-point rebuttal to their "fabricated" allegations during a debate on electoral reforms during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.
"This shows that you do not have truth in your hand, yet you are trying to create an atmosphere of confusion. The Congress' rally is an exercise to protect 'ghuspaithiyas (infiltrators)'. This is what the Congress is doing," the BJP MP told reporters here.
"The Congress party may try all it wants to mislead the people as well as insult and defame our constitutional institutions. But, the entire world knows that India's democracy is very robust and it cannot be shaken," he added.
The BJP leader accused the Congress of holding the rally to pursue its "appeasement politics" and dared Rahul Gandhi to challenge the Bihar assembly polls if he felt that there was any irregularity.
"Rahul ji, you still have perhaps 10 days left in your hands. You can still file a complaint if you feel that there was any irregularity (in the poll process) in any of the seats in the Bihar assembly polls," Patra said.
