By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) while strongly condemning the demolition of an old and historical Masjid by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in Jangpura locality near Hazrat Nizamuddin has demanded that it be rebuilt forthwith to ward off the brewing tension over the issue.
The SDPI general secretary Mr. A. Sayeed in a Press release expressed surprise that under the Congress-ruled Delhi state Government the religious sentiments of Muslims have been blatantly hurt and violated with no concern of the fall-out the incident would ignite. It is really travesty of truth that on one hand the Congress claims to be the savior of Muslims but on the other it has shown by its action that it does not hesitate to trample upon their religious feelings in the name of implementing a court order to demolish a mosque in the name of encroachment. The demolition of a religious place that too in a secular government is a matter of deep concern, he stressed.
Mr. Sayeed held both Delhi Government and Waqf Board responsible for the painful incident. He said that the Waqf Board failed to prove the fact before the court that the place of the Masjid belongs to it though it possessed land record and document for the site. While the Delhi Government is also responsible for this because more than one year has passed but Chairman, members and Chief Executive Officer of the Waqf Board have not been elected. Thus, no one is at the board to take such sensitive matter seriously, he pointed out.
If Delhi state Congress Government wants to prove its secular credentials then the reported assurance of Chief Minister Sheila Dixit that if the place belongs to Waqf Board, the Masjid will be rebuilt there and if it belongs to DDA then the government will buy it for the Masjid should be carried out in letter and spirit without any delay to assuage the feelings of Muslims. This would entail peace in the area and tension will be released from the agitating minds of the Muslims.
Mr. Sayeed appealed to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to allow Muslims for offering prayers at the site and to rebuild the Masjid at the same place soon and also to take tough action against officers involved in the demolition. ([email protected])