By TCN Staff reporter,
New Delhi: The Delhi Government will rebuild Noor Masjid of Jangpura. If it is proved the mosque was on Delhi Development Authority (DDA)land then the government will buy the land and facilitate the rebuilding of the mosque which was demolished by the DDA on 12th January, causing unprecedented protest and shutdown in Muslim dominated areas of the national capital for next 48 hours.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit personally made this assurance to Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari on Friday morning. She also conveyed him the message of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy that the mosque will be rebuilt at the same place where it stood.
LJP MLA Shoib Iqbal calling azam before Juma prayer at the site of Noor masjid
Shahi Imam and others had threatened to lead thousands to offer Juma prayer at the same site. Tension had gripped the walled city area and other Muslim pockets soon after the demolition of the mosque in Jangpura, near Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah in the wee hours on 13th Jan. As day grew, thousands came on to the street protesting the demolition, resulting in police-public clashes. In protest against the demolition, hundreds of local Muslims had started offering daily prayers in front of Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station.
To overcome the spreading tension, the administration first allowed prayers at the site with the restriction that the namazis should be local and not exceed 50. But sensing situation going out of control, the decision to rebuild the mosque was taken at political level.
During over hour-long meeting Mrs. Dikshit conveyed the Shahi Imam that people have been allowed to offer five times prayer at the site of the masjid. “At the same time we are waiting for the court decision for further process in this regard” she said.
Crowd gathered to offer prayer
“Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has acted in an unfair manner. It did not take the religious leaders into confidence before demolishing the mosque and the Delhi Waqf Board was not allowed to present its case either,” Mrs. Dikshit has been reported as saying.
Notably, soon after the mosque was razed by DDA on Wednesday morning, Maulana Bukhari warned the government that if the matter was not sorted out before Thursday evening, he would lead Juma prayer at the site of demolished Masjid.
Thousands of people from different parts of the capital city as well as surrounding states gathered on Friday at the site of masjid to offer Juma prayer. Despite deployment of several companies of security forces, people marched under the leadership of Maulana Bukhari to the exact place of Masjid Noor and offered prayer there. Due to huge crowd another Jama’t (congregation) was offered in front of Nizamuddin Police station.