Apprehensions mount over preservation of Mehrauli’s rich heritage with residents fearing an irreversible damage to their cultural legacy.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Tension prevails in the Mehrauli neighbourhood of South Delhi as the area’s approximately 700-year-old mosque is embroiled in controversies and legal skirmishes. The core of the dispute centres around the alleged illegal occupation of a revered mosque, a claim vehemently contested by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
Following the deployment of bulldozers at the nearby madrassa and graveyard, a stay order issued by a court has attempted to maintain calm in the area. However, local residents are increasingly uneasy over the protracted police blockades which have severely restricted access to the locality.
Reports obtained by Clarion India indicate that legal proceedings concerning Dargah Ashiqullah only serve to exacerbate tensions, with residents anxious about the future of this sacred site. Despite court directives to uphold the status quo, locals allege collusion between the administration and petitioners, resulting in the removal of the imam and the tampering of evidence to obliterate any traces of malfeasance.
Speaking to Clarion India, on condition of anonymity, locals lament the flagrant disregard for court orders aimed at safeguarding the area’s historical treasures, including the mosque, madrassa, and numerous shrines, all now under threat from the marauding bulldozers. Despite judicial intervention, doubts linger over the DDA’s conduct, prompting calls for transparency and accountability.
As apprehensions mount over the preservation of Mehrauli’s rich heritage amidst this legal quagmire, residents fear irreversible damage to their cultural legacy. The outcome of the court’s deliberations on the fate of these iconic landmarks carries profound implications for the future of Mehrauli.
With the dispute unfolding, residents remain on the edge, eagerly anticipating further developments as legal proceedings unfold under the watchful eyes of the judiciary.
