'Don’t raise pro-Iran slogans during Friday namaz': Sambhal cop Kuldeep Kumar's remark sparks row

MEERUT: Sambhal circle officer (CO) Kuldeep Kumar warned against raising slogans or displaying solidarity with war-torn Iran during the Friday prayers while addressing a peace meeting ahead of ‘Alvida Jumah' and Eid."We're Hindustani, we're Indians and we live here peacefully. Conflicts happening between other nations are international matters, and they'll deal with them," Kumar said, adding that those having an itch over what is happening in Iran or showing strong support for that country in the West Asia conflict should instead go there. The CO further cautioned that any attempt to bring international conflicts into local religious gatherings "would not be tolerated". The officer stressed that under no circumstances should protests, banners or slogans be raised during namaz. He also cautioned the local printing press of making such banners.When contacted by TOI on Thursday, Kumar confirmed the "message" but downplayed it. The purported meeting video is widely circulating online.Kumar told TOI: "That (peace) meeting (on Wed) was held ahead of their festival. During the briefing, I had only focussed on the fact that developments in other parts of the world should not have any adverse impact on our region's law and order. We witnessed several protests in the last few days. So, I only said that when we have nothing to do with Iran, then why create an uneasy situation in our district?"He added: "I've made no comments on any religion or religious leader…Again, my concern is only the law and order."Shahi imam Maulana Qasim Zaidi of Imam Qanati Masjid in Delhi, said, "These kinds of statements are nothing less than hate speech. We don't see Ayatollah Khamenei from a political prism; he's a supreme spiritual leader of our community and the mourning on his ‘martyrdom' transcends political and national boundaries." Qanati Masjid is a prominent Shia shrine in the country.The Sambhal CO's remarks come days after All India Shia Personal Law Board on March 2 announced a three-day mourning following the assassination of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, and called for black flags to be hoisted on homes and commercial establishments across the country as a mark of mourning.