Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 15 (ANI): AIMIM chief Assadudin Owaisi on Friday criticized calls for Muslims to stay indoors or cover themselves during Holi, asserting the community's strength by saying, 'We will not run, we are not cowards.'

'Some say if you're so scared, you should not offer namaz and stay indoors. They say just like we have covered our mosques, we must cover ourselves also, or else stay indoors,' Owaisi said while addressing a gathering at Chowk-e-Masjid in Telangana's Hyderabad.

His remarks were in response to statements by some officials advising Muslims to remain indoors if they did not want to be colored during Holi.

In Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary had on March 6 suggested that those uncomfortable with colours should stay inside, a comment later backed by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Several mosques in Uttar Pradesh were covered with tarpaulin on orders from the local administration to prevent any untoward incidents during Holi celebrations.

'Those who migrated to Pakistan were cowards. We will not run, we are not cowards. A Chief Minister said Jumma namaz can be offered at home as well... Who is he to tell us what we can and cannot do?' Owaisi added.

This year, Holi coincided with the second Jumma namaz (Friday prayers) of Ramzan on March 14. Security forces conducted flag marches and set up checkpoints to ensure peaceful celebrations across several states.

In UP's Sambhal, Holi festivities and prayers were observed peacefully under tight security. Sambhal Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vandana Mishra praised the cooperation among communities, saying that peaceful celebrations 'sent a strong message of harmony.'

District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia also spoke about the cooperation of people in Sambhal, which was affected by violence in November last year.

'All are happy, and they are playing Holi by applying colours to one another. We are getting cooperation from everyone,' the District Magistrate said.

Circle Officer Anuj Chowdhary led a flag march along with other police personnel to ensure the law and order situation in the district.

Circle officer Chaudhary said the police monitored the situation through foot patrolling and drone surveillance.'We are conducting foot-patrolling and drone surveillance', he told ANI on Friday.

Other than police, paramilitary forces also conducted a flag march in Sambhal, whereas the administration used drones to monitor the situation in the district properly. Earlier, Sambhal MP Zia ur Rehman Barq urged people of all communities to maintain peace and harmony ahead of the Jumma and Holi celebrations. (ANI)