By Tarique Anwar, TwoCircles.net
Vellore (Tamilnadu): A sea of Muslims disciplined and peacefully descended on the famous Vellore Fort to demand their right to pray. Located within Vellore Fort, Muslims are not allowed to pray in 250 years old Nawab Masjid. Muslims of Tamilnadu have been demanding for a long time that the masjid be opened up for prayers. On Friday, about ten thousand Muslims under the banner of Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) marched towards the fort to be allowed to pray. They were prevented from entering the fort, as a result they offered prayers outside the fort on the road. More than two thousands of them detained and later released.
While talking to TwoCircles.net on phone, Prof. M.H. Jawahirullah, president of TMMK said “The historic vellore Fort is a symbol of secularism as it houses the Jalaganteshwar temple, the Nawab Masjid and the CSI Church within its campus. Except for the Masjid, prayers are being regularly performed in the Jalagenteshwar temple and in the Church. Muslims have been long demanding that they should also be permitted to perform prayer in the Nawab Masjid. Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam issued an ultimatum in January stating that prayers should be permitted inside the Masjid by April 30, otherwise it would organise Friday congregational prayers in the Nawab Masjid”.
According to Jawahirullah the Archaeological Survey of India refused to open the Masjid for prayers. In this context thousands of Muslims under his leadership assembled near the Fort. The police had imposed a tight security cordon in the entire Fort area. They prevented the Muslims from entering the Fort. Consequently the assembled Muslims performed the Friday congregational prayers under the scorching sun in the highway adjoining the Fort.
Delivering the Friday sermon, Prof. Jawahirullah said: “The Archaeological Survey of India took over the entire Fort premises in 1921. Since Independence, Hindus and Muslims of Vellore have been demanding that they should be permitted to perform prayer at the Temple and Mosque. However the ASI has strongly refused to fulfil this demand. In 1981, the Hindus of Vellore forcibly entered the Jalagandeshwar temple and performed puja which is continuing without any interruption from the ASI. Whenever Muslims have demanded that they should be permitted to pray in the Nawab Masjid, the ASI had been contending that since prayers were not performed in the Masjid at the time of its takeover in 1921, it cannot permit prayers now. The ASI took over the entire 136 acres of Vellore Fort in 1921. But it has permitted the functioning of new offices inside the Fort. Further 3 new temples have also been built inside the temple. The ASI had done nothing to maintain the status quo that prevailed in 1921. However it is adamant only to maintain status quo with regard to the Masjid. This is nothing but blatant discrimination. This has only exposed the fact that there is one set of rule for Muslims in this country but another set of rules for others. Today the Police has imposed a tight security cordon and has prevented us from entering the Vellore Fort Masjid. But our struggle today is only a trial. Our struggle will continue until we establish the rights of prayer in the ASI controlled Masjid,”
When asked if this attempt will communalize the situation, Prof. Jawahirullah, who has doctorate in Economics said that he has wide support from important leaders of Hindus and Christians. He said Thol. Tirumavalvan, leader of Viduthalai Siruthaigal, Mr. Paramasivam, Trustee of Jalaganteshwar Dharama Sabha and Father of the fort church have all supported Muslims demand.
Vellore municipality have also passed a resolution supporting Muslims demand that they be allowed to pray in fort mosque.
Prof. Jawahirullah also warned that this protest is only a dress rehearsal and if the Central Government did not understand the sentiments of thousands of Muslims who had assembled here, TMMK would launch an unannounced agitation to perform prayers in the Masjid situated inside the Fort.
There are hundreds of these old and historical mosques all over India under ASI control where no prayers can be offered.
Listen to the interview with Prof. Jawahirullah:
Slide show: