By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Under the aegis of newly formed Tahaffuz Maqamat-e-Muqaddasa Committee (Committee to protect religious places) at Lucknow, clerics vowed to safeguard their religious places from encroachments on Monday.
Raising the first issue, the clerics demanded the under-construction gate of a temple near Dariya Wali Masjid should be stopped by the administration. “It violates the apex court’s guidelines where two religious structures cannot come up at short distance for averting problems at a later stage. It is also a nuisance of pedestrians as whole foot path has been dug up and the bund beside Gomti river has been breached to make way for the passage,” stated Imam, Tile Wali Masjid, Maulana Fazlur Rehman Waizi during a press conference organised at Dariya Wali Masjid on Monday. Serving an ultimatum to the administration, the clerics threatened to resort to hunger strike if the construction of gate is not stopped. However, Waizi denied to copy Swami Ramdev or Anna Hazare for going on hunger strike claiming that protest against harassment and other social issues were raised by them even before the new breed of ‘satyagrah’ was ushered in the country. “We fought against the Britishers and now will fight for our rights, there is nothing new in this issue. We are not imitating anyone,” he said. Flanked by his two sons, Maulana Mannan and Maulana Wasif, Waizi appeared in no mood to relent.
Clerics addressing press at Dariya Wali Masjid in Lucknow on Monday
Clerics claimed that administration has turned a Nelson’s eye towards the upkeep of religious places in Lucknow. “Several graveyards, mosques and other establishments are being encroached and even sold. This is highly objectionable and administration should take stern action against such elements,” he said.
The clerics also demanded that a boundary wall be constructed in Waqf Masjid at Sarai Mali Khan as it is falling prey to encroachments. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) should also release all the mosques in historical monuments from its control so that they can be put to use for religious purposes. They also demanded that encroachments near Shahnajaf Imambara, Tile Wali Masjid, Bada Imambara etc. should be removed and they should be declared heritage zone.
On the other hand, absence of eminent Shia Cleric and Imam-e-Juma, Maulana Kalbe Jawwad during the meet was raised by newsmen however, Waizi claimed that he had support of Jawwad. “Maulana Jawwad was present during the formation of the committee and he is very much with us. He could not attend today’s meet due to health ground,” said Mannan.
Other prominent cleric who were present included Shaher Qazi Maulana Irfan Miyan Farangi Mahli, Maulana Tasneem Mehdi, former chairman, Shia Waqf Board, Syed Waseem Rizvi and several others.