BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take strict action following a video that surfaced showing staff and locals offering namaz inside the electricity department office of the Malegaon Municipal Corporation. Somaiya expressed concern over the open offering of namaz in a government office and emphasized the need for accountability in this matter.
The controversy arose after a video went viral, depicting the act of offering namaz within the office premises, leading to a heated debate and strong political responses. The incident is reportedly connected to a persistent electricity problem in one of the city’s wards, with residents alleging unresolved power supply issues despite prior complaints to the Municipal Corporation.
Residents from the affected ward, under the leadership of Lukman Kamal, president of the Malegaon Lok Sangharsh Samiti, staged a protest at the electricity department office to highlight their grievances. As the protest coincided with the holy month of Ramadan and the time for Asr prayers, namaz was conducted collectively inside the office, captured in the circulated video.
The video’s dissemination on social media platforms triggered widespread discussions, with contrasting views emerging on the appropriateness of conducting religious prayers within a government establishment. While some viewed it as a peaceful form of protest, others questioned the mixing of religious activities with administrative spaces.
Various political figures weighed in on the incident, with Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Narayan Rane expressing concerns about the incident’s implications and BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar calling it illegal and against the Constitution. Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad emphasized the importance of maintaining a separation between religion and administration, advocating against the transformation of government offices into places of worship.
