Overview

• Meerut police have prohibited Eid prayers on public streets, mandating they be held in mosques or designated locations like Eidgahs to maintain public order.
• Violators of the directive face severe legal repercussions, including potential cancellation of passports and driving licences, as well as FIRs and arrests.
• Extensive security measures, including drone surveillance, armed force deployment, and social media monitoring, are in place to enforce the directive and prevent unrest.
• Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary criticized the move, describing it as authoritarian and likening it to George Orwell's dystopian novel '1984.'
• The directive has drawn backlash from the Muslim community, who argue it disproportionately targets their religious practices, while similar restrictions are being implemented in other districts of Uttar Pradesh.