Traffic police make violators swear by holy books

The traffic police officials in Gurgaon have irked religious leaders after they made traffic violators to swear on their respective holy books to abide by the rules.

In fact, a Muslim organisation, Jamiatul Mahim threatening to take action against this. It plans to issue a fatwa against forcing truck drivers to take oath on the Quran, a cleric said. Hindu and Sikh religious leaders are also fuming at the exercise by Gurgaon Traffic Police (GTP) of using sacred books to make people swear by lane driving.

Gurgaon traffic police had launched a “Sensible Driving” programme on the expressway. As part of the drive, heavy vehicle drivers found violating rules were fined and then asked to take oath on their holy books. Mushtak Ansari, a cleric from Delhi-based Jamiatul Mahim said, “Any type of traffic offence on the road should be treated according to the law. Our religion does not allow the sacred Quran to be involved in such matters. We will take it up with the ulemas and a fatwa would be issued.”

“It's a very serious issue, we are going to take action,” said Imam of Jama Masjid Mosque Gurgaon. President of Gurudwara Singh Sabha Gurgaon, Santhokh Singh, also expressed his ire, saying, “I can't believe this. There is a particular religious procedure to move the Guru Granth Sahib... We will certainly take strong action.”

The chief coordinator of ISKCON - International Society of Krishna Consciousness - here, Achyut Hari Dass said: “Hands have to be washed before touching the Gita.”

An official from GTP clarified, “It's an idea of the traffic volunteers and we are only supporting them.

He further added, "We have arranged for a Gita, Quran, Guru Granth Sahib and Bible."