By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: To protest against the alleged detention of several members of Shia Muslim community during a Muharram majlis in Delhi on Sunday, the Shia Muslims of Lucknow torched the effigy of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit at Chota Imambara here on Monday.
The Lucknow Shias were protesting against the alleged detention of Shias in Lodhi Road police station on Sunday when they were holding majlis at Karbala Shaheed-e-Mard and Kanati Masjid. The Delhi Police’s act has earned widespread criticism from Shia community in Lucknow as they were mourning the tenth day of martyrdom of Imam Husain during the Islamic month of Muharram.
On December 27, several Shia Muslims assembled at Chota Imambara and raised slogans against Congress government and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit. They also demanded judicial inquiry in the whole incident besides action against the erring police officials of Lodhi Road police station.
Several Shia clerics too have decried the act of the Delhi police and denounced Sheila Dixit. General Secretary, All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB), Maulana Yasoob Abbas talking to newsmen on Monday said: “I was myself present during the majlis in Delhi. The Lodhi Road police have acted against the Shias by detaining them. Several eminent members of our community including Amir Raza Hussain of Rampur and religious clerics were detained by police,” he added.
Abbas threatened that members of Shia community will assemble in large number in Delhi at the said Karbala during Chehallum (40th day of the Imam Husain’s martyrdom) situated in Zor Bagh in the National Capital.
“It is up to the Delhi government to settle the issue seriously as the community will not tolerate infringement on its religious rights,” he added.
Also joining the protest was Shikoh Azad of Royal Family of Awadh who remarked: “The said karbala in Delhi is registered in waqf board of Delhi. It was built by Shah Alam some 400 years ago and it is the religious property of Shias. Several religious functions were held in the past and this sudden police act is a curtailment of our religious rights.”
Later, the protestors also submitted a memorandum to the President of
India through the District Magistrate, Lucknow.