'Muslim men can cover themselves with tarpaulin on Holi': UP minister Raghuraj Singh sparks row

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Raghuraj Singh has stirred controversy with his remarks suggesting that Muslim men cover themselves with tarpaulins if they wish to avoid being sprinkled with colours while stepping out for prayers on Holi, which falls this Friday.

The festival this year coincides with the second Friday of Ramzan, leading to discussions on maintaining communal harmony during celebrations.

Singh, who holds the status of a Minister of State in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, asserted that it was not feasible to expect followers of Sanatan Dharma to restrict Holi celebrations near mosques. “The festival of Holi comes just once a year, and to expect people to refrain from playing in certain areas is not a practical solution,” he told reporters on Monday night.

Drawing a parallel to veiling practices, Singh suggested that Muslim men could cover themselves if they wished to avoid colours. "Muslim women cover themselves with veils, and mosques are often covered with tarpaulins as a precautionary measure," he remarked.

His comments come in the wake of a similar controversial statement by a police officer in Sambhal, who recently suggested that those uncomfortable with Holi colours should stay indoors since the festival occurs only once a year, while Friday prayers take place 52 times annually. The remarks had triggered a debate, but chief minister Yogi Adityanath defended the officer, stating that while he may have spoken in a wrestler’s tone, his point was valid.

In light of the festival coinciding with Friday prayers, several mosques across Uttar Pradesh have adjusted their prayer timings to avoid any conflict. Meanwhile, authorities are implementing strict security and precautionary measures to ensure a peaceful Holi celebration across the state.

Adding to the discourse, Singh also voiced support for local BJP leader Ruby Asif Khan’s proposal to build a Ram temple on the AMU campus. “I strongly support this proposal and am ready to make a hefty contribution to the cause,” he declared.


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