Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – The bulldozer action on a three-storey mosque has come under fire after the authorities bulldozed a portion of the religious place calling it “encroachment” over the government’s land in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar. The mosque committee has rejected the allegations of the encroachment.
On Sunday, the authorities used six bulldozers to demolish portions of the big mosque, which was being planned to be built as Asia’s largest mosque. The bulldozer action was taken by the authorities after a Bharatiya Janata Party leader Bacchan Singh filed a complaint against the mosque located in Hata area of Kushinagar.
Shaukat Ali, president of All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Uttar Pradesh, condemned the bulldozer actions saying that the administration has lied about the mosque.
“If you are saying it is illegal encroachments, there are many such encroachments in the state and across the country. These encroachments are in the middle of the roads even in Lucknow. They are also on the sewers. All of these are illegal enrichments. You should demolish and remove all of this,” said Ali in a video statement.
He asserted that what are you doing to the mosque in the name of encroachments is unfair and condemnable.
Ali pointed out that the administration has not issued any official statement regard the allegations levelled against the mosque. But the mosque committee have issued a statement refuting the allegation of encroachment.
According to the AIMIM leader, the mosque committee was accused of not getting approval for the map of the religious place but they said they have built the mosque only after getting approval for the map and they currently posses it. The administration also told lies that the mosque committee did not respond to the notices issued to them. However, the mosque authorities said that they have responded to the notices for three times.
The mosque authorities have provided documents of 32 decimals belonging to the mosque while the mosque is built on 28 decimals. “If the statements of the mosque committee is believed, the mosque was illegally built. But the way the action was taken with six bulldozers on the mosque after sealing the area is condemnable,” said Ali.
As the administration began the bulldozer actions on the mosque, Supreme advocate served the legal notice to the District Magistrate, Kushinagar demanding the immediate halt to the demolition process citing the violations of the Supreme Court.
“In this regard, it is pertinent to remind you that the Supreme Court of India has consistently upheld the right to religious worship and the protection of places of worship from unlawful destruction. Any attempt to demolish the Masjid at Hata directly contravenes the orders passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and as, is not only illegal but also constitutes a grave violation of the rights enshrined in the Constitution of India,” reads the legal notice.
The notice also warned that the district magistrate will be held personally liable for the contempt of the Supreme Court’s order and legal proceedings will be initiated against him including seeking appropriate legal remedies to safeguard the Masjid, and invoking contempt proceedings before the Supreme Court.
“This is a final opportunity for you to comply with the law and prevent any unlawful acts that could cause further harm to religious sentiments and violate the rights protected by our Constitution,” reads the notice.
