Ban on street namaz, crackdown on stone throwers: New Bengal govt's first moves

BJP MLA Arjun Singh said the administration had already issued strict directives on several matters, including public order, illegal activities and religious gatherings on roads.

In Short

• Arjun Singh says prayers should be held only inside mosques
• Roadside namaz ban likely to spark political controversy statewide
• BJP says strict action against smugglers and stone-pelting incidents

The Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government in West Bengal has moved swiftly on one of its key political promises, with state BJP MLA Arjun Singh saying roadside namaz will be restricted and prayers will not be permitted on streets. The decision, which Singh spoke of during an interview with India Today TV, is expected to trigger political controversy in the state.

Speaking on the government’s early decisions after taking office, Arjun Singh said the administration had already issued strict directives on several matters, including public order, illegal activities and religious gatherings on roads.

"The CM has given many orders during the Cabinet meeting. Namaz will not be allowed in the streets. Let them pray at mosques, but on the streets, it won't be tolerated," Arjun Singh said.

Referring to public prayers in Kolkata’s Red Road area, Singh said such gatherings would no longer be allowed.

"Such a thing won't be seen. These are court orders," he said, indicating the government would cite judicial directives while implementing the restrictions.

The Eid Namaz on the Red Road, owned by the Ministry of Defence, became a subject of controversy last year when the Army initially denied permission for the prayers to go ahead, citing military use.

However, a couple of days later, the Army decided to alter its training schedule a bit to accommodate Eid al-Adha prayers on the road that stretches from the Netaji Statue to the entrance of Fort William, the Eastern Command Headquarters.

CRACKDOWN ON CATTLE SMUGGLING

Earlier, the BJP government said it was taking a tough stance on cattle smuggling and stone-pelting incidents, two issues the BJP had repeatedly raised during the election campaign.

Asked whether cattle smuggling would continue under the new regime, he said, “Action will be taken against those smugglers found doing cattle smuggling. Stone pelting won’t be allowed”.

The statement comes days after the West Bengal administration issued a series of directives to crack down on cattle smuggling, a long-standing BJP poll issue.

On Monday, police officials were instructed to shut down all unauthorised cattle markets with immediate effect.

Border districts and other sensitive areas were also put under enhanced surveillance to dismantle smuggling networks.

The BJP had frequently accused several Trinamool Congress leaders of being linked to cattle smuggling syndicates. The issue gained political traction after central agencies investigated senior TMC figures, including Birbhum leader Anubrata Mondal, in connection with alleged smuggling cases.

The latest decisions are being seen as the first visible steps by the new BJP government to act on its election promises. Moving ahead, similar steps by the Suvendu Adhikari government may become topics of hot political debate in the state.

- Ends