It led to no less than a feeling of indignation and regret on witnessing the “strong” opposition to Tablighi Ijtema by some followers and groups of Sunni sect on unfounded and fabricated reasons at Chhattisgarh’s Pendra town in Bilaspur district. And in the much-needed relief the High Court enabled the holding of a three-day religious programme after it passed a directive and stayed the collector’s order on forbidding the holding of the said Ijtema.
Ironically, one wonders, while recalling how the Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali had reviewed the preparation of Tablighi Ijtema held in his state earlier, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan doesn’t hesitate to extend the possible help from the administration for the Bhopal’s annual ijtema, how come some groups allegedly for reasons best known to them in Chhattisgarh run a venomous campaign and attempted to stall this religious congregation.
Interestingly, the members of Tablighi Jamaat informed Radiance that the Hindus, Christians and other communities locally had offered cooperation for the Ijtema in Pendra. A resident of Pendra in fact provided his 15-acre land for the successful organising of the three-day event.
Had it not been the decision of the Chhattisgarh High Court that stayed the order of the Bilaspur District Collector, the situation would have been unacceptable and frustrating for those who come to learn and understand Islam together. Several Muslim organisations have expressed surprise on the Collector having acted allegedly at the behest of the Sunni sect to disallow the religious congregation for which the official permission was already granted by him in January. Some committees (local and outsiders) had registered their objection following which the collector Anbalagan P placed the order not to allow the Ijtema.
The complaint by some groups strangely cited that such an event poses risk of disturbing peace in the region and may lead to breakdown of law and order. Just on the basis of this the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Namrata Gandhi put a break on earlier permission.
The petitioner, Mukhtar Hussain, Mutawalli of Anjuman Islamiya, challenged the order of the Collector in the High Court through senior counsels K A Ansari, Prashant Jaiswal and Salim Kazi.
The lawyers requested the court that the matter was of utmost importance and if it is not heard by February 12 (Friday) the same will become infructuous since Saturday and Sunday are court holidays and the Ijtema was scheduled to begin the next day i.e., Saturday.
The petitioners told the court that they have already made considerable arrangement for the upcoming congregation after obtaining permission from the SDM of Pendra on 29 December last year. However, objections were reportedly raised by some members of the society but the collector rejected their plea on 23 January. However, the concerned group once again moved an application to the Pendra SDM who in turn called the report from the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP). As per the report of the ASP the congregation can hold its meeting as per the schedule between 13 to 15 February on certain given conditions.
The conditions imposed by the SDM Pendra was acceptable to the petitioner, the court was told, but on February 6 the Bilaspur collector again on the objection raised by some “unwanted elements” had stayed the order of the SDM.
The petitioner said the collector passed the order without giving them any opportunity of hearing. “Already much efforts have been done, tasks accomplished and the guests have also started arriving at the venue to participate. And if the congregation is not held on the given dates the petitioner shall be put to irreparable loss and great inconvenience,” the petitioner stated before the court.
The counsels further pleaded in their arguments that if any religious programme is prohibited then it amounts to violation of rights under Articles 25 and 19 of the Constitution of India. The advocates stated that not giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner is also against the doctrine of ‘principles of natural justice’.
The single bench of Justice P Sam Koshi agreeing to arguments put forth by the petitioner stayed the order of the Collector passed on February 6.
The event was successfully held with thousands of Muslims turning up to attend it. Enough security forces were deployed near the Tablighi congregation to ensure no one is allowed to taking the law in their hands, said a senior police officer.
The Muslim scholars said that such “ill-considered” move to needlessly oppose the Tablighi Ijtema programme does not augur well for the community as the programme, where everyone is welcome, never intends to hurt anyone’s sentiments rather promotes the fundament beliefs of Islam.