Samajwadi Party (SP) President and MLA Abu Azmi appealed to the people ahead of Holi 2025 and the second Jumma prayer of Ramadan on Thursday. The SP leader requested the Muslim community to be patient if someone threw colours at them. "My Muslim brothers, if someone puts colour on you, then do not get into a fight."
"Namaaz can be offered at home in the case of a compulsion. But, it is necessary to offer 'Jumme ki Namaaz' in the mosque," Azmi said while speaking with news agency ANI on mosques being covered with Tarpaulin sheet ahead of Holi festival.
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Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar MLA said, "There is no need to politicise festivals... I request anyone who is celebrating Holi tomorrow to celebrate it enthusiastically but, do not throw colour on any Muslim without consent."
"Namaaz can be offered at home in the case of a compulsion. But, it is necessary to offer 'Jumme ki Namaaz' in the mosque... I would also request my Muslim brothers that if someone puts colour on you, then do not get into a fight because this is the month of forgiveness, of brotherhood... The mosques must be getting covered so no colour can be thrown at it which may lead to a dispute," he added further.
Abu Azmi was recently embroiled in a controversy for praising Aurangzeb. Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde strongly objected to this. After his statement, the Mumbai Police registered a case against him. The SP leader, however, got anticipatory bail from a court. He was also suspended from the current Budget session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. After the controversies, he withdrew the statement.