In a significant move on Thursday, the Meerut Police issued a directive concerning this year’s Eid namaz, imposing strict restrictions on where it can be performed.
The police stated that the prayers would be limited to designated locations such as nearby mosques and the ground at Faiz-e-Aam Inter College. This decision is part of a broader crackdown aimed at curbing the practice of offering namaz on public streets, which had been a point of contention last year.
Meerut's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ayush Vikram Singh, warned that any violations would lead to immediate legal consequences.
"Violators will face immediate legal action, including FIRs and potential arrests. We will also initiate proceedings to cancel their passport and driving license," Singh said.
The police have implemented an extensive security plan to ensure that the restrictions are followed, involving drones, video surveillance, and the deployment of forces such as the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) in key areas of the city. Singh also referred to last year's incidents, noting that over 200 worshippers had been registered in cases for offering namaz on public streets.
Chaudhary, who is the leader of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), took to X to express his disapproval, writing, "Policing Towards Orwellian 1984!"
This brief but pointed remark caught the attention of many, drawing comparisons to George Orwell’s iconic dystopian novel 1984, which deals with the theme of totalitarian state control and surveillance designed to maintain absolute power over the populace.
Jayant’s post sparked a flurry of responses, with political observers and social media users quickly interpreting it as a critique of the police's heavy-handed approach to regulating religious practices.
Many noted that Orwell’s novel serves as a metaphor for an oppressive state, drawing uncomfortable parallels with the level of monitoring and control implied by the police's surveillance plans.
The police stated that the prayers would be limited to designated locations such as nearby mosques and the ground at Faiz-e-Aam Inter College. This decision is part of a broader crackdown aimed at curbing the practice of offering namaz on public streets, which had been a point of contention last year.
Meerut's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ayush Vikram Singh, warned that any violations would lead to immediate legal consequences.
"Violators will face immediate legal action, including FIRs and potential arrests. We will also initiate proceedings to cancel their passport and driving license," Singh said.
The police have implemented an extensive security plan to ensure that the restrictions are followed, involving drones, video surveillance, and the deployment of forces such as the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) in key areas of the city. Singh also referred to last year's incidents, noting that over 200 worshippers had been registered in cases for offering namaz on public streets.
'Policing towards Orwellian 1984'
The police’s directive quickly became a topic of political discussion, with Jayant Chaudhary, a minister in the NDA government, commenting on it via a social media thread.Chaudhary, who is the leader of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), took to X to express his disapproval, writing, "Policing Towards Orwellian 1984!"
This brief but pointed remark caught the attention of many, drawing comparisons to George Orwell’s iconic dystopian novel 1984, which deals with the theme of totalitarian state control and surveillance designed to maintain absolute power over the populace.
Jayant’s post sparked a flurry of responses, with political observers and social media users quickly interpreting it as a critique of the police's heavy-handed approach to regulating religious practices.
Many noted that Orwell’s novel serves as a metaphor for an oppressive state, drawing uncomfortable parallels with the level of monitoring and control implied by the police's surveillance plans.
