Namaz Fiasco At Poona's Shaniwar Wada

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 21 October 2025 Hindu outfits protested on Sunday, October 19, after a video showing Muslim women offering Namaz at the historical Shaniwar Wada in Maharashtra's Poona city went viral on social media. The video was also posted on X by Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha member Medha Kulkarni, who sought strict action in the matter. "This is unfortunate. Shaniwar Wada is not the place to offer Namaz. We urge the administration to take strict action against those involved," she told reporters while leading a protest of several hundred persons. Before leading the march, Kulkarni had tweeted, “We will not allow 'Namaz’ in Shaniwarwada, Hindu community has now become awakened...Chalo Shaniwarwada'' ---- The outfits that took part in the protest included the Patit Pavan Sanghatna and Hindu Sakal Samaj. They sprinkled cow urine at the site and offered 'Shiv Vandana' (a Hindu prayer) in an effort to "purify" the site after the Namaz episode. Speaking on the issue, deputy commissioner of police Krushikesh Rawale said the site is under the Archaeological Survey India. "We will speak to the ASI and will take further action after that," he said. Both the communities are at fault. Performing Namaz at Shaniwar Wada was unnecessary. Equally unnecessary was to create a hue and cry over a petty issue involving uneducated or semi-educated, devout Muslim women. Shaniwar Wada in Poona is not a religious place. Offering Namaz didn't desecrate it. Even if it were a religious site, Namaz is a holy thing and a humble offering to the Almighty. Sahir Ludhianvi wrote, "Qura'an Na Ho Jis Mein Woh Mandir Nahin Tera/ Geeta Na Ho Jis Mein Woh Haram Tera Nahin Hai" (From the song, 'Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalmaan Banega, Insaan Ki Aulaad Hai Insaan Banega'; Film: Dhool ka Phool, 1959, Music: Dutta Naik). But do these neo-Hindus understand all these lofty things? Does this fanatic Hindu politician and a member of BJP, Medha Kulkarni have any sense that it's not at all an issue to create further gulf between the two communities? (Pragya Thakur) ----- The problem with the current political dispensation is that it has a number of fanatic Hindus like this woman from Poona, 'Sadhvi' Pragya Singh, Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who openly calls Muslims, Namak Haram, among others. They've not been reined in. Rather they've been unleashed on the minorities with their irresponsible actions and volatile utterances. Purifying Shaniwar Wada, where the Muslim women offered Namaz, with cow urine is all the more ridiculous. This country is already polarised and such acts of religious idiocy will further polarise it. Jay Shiv Shambhu, Jay Shivaji, Jay Peshwa! I at times feel that humans have collectively decided never to evolve. Once they're enured to eating poop, pudding doesn't appeal to them. Swines don't drink wines. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-politics/namaz-fiasco-poona-pragya/d/137332 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism