Why court ordered Sambhal mosque survey when plea prayed for right to access?: Asaduddin Owaisi
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (PTI): AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said if the petition over a Mughal-era mosque at Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh had prayed for the right to access, then why a court there ordered a survey of the structure.
Targeting the ruling BJP, Owaisi said such issues weaken the country, which is facing inflation, unemployment, farmer suicides and other issues.
On November 19, a court of civil judge (senior division) of Sambhal passed an ex-parte order for a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid by an advocate commissioner, after taking note of a plea of the Hindu side claiming the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Babur in 1526 after demolishing a temple.
On November 24, violence gripped the area during the court-ordered survey of the mosque, killing four persons and injuring many others.
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered a Sambhal trial court to halt proceedings in the case over the Shahi Jama Masjid and its survey at Chandausi while directing the UP government to maintain peace and harmony in the violence-hit town.
Talking to reporters here on Sunday over the Sambhal incident, Owaisi said, "If we read the petition, we find the prayer in it is right to access. If this is so, why did the court order the survey, which is wrong. If they need access, who stops them from going and sitting in the mosque?"
"If according to the Places of Worship Act, the character and nature (of a religious place) can't be changed, then why still the survey was ordered?" the Hyderabad MP asked.
Notably, a court recently also admitted a petition seeking to declare the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan as a temple.
Several opposition leaders have raised serious concerns over the controversy on the Ajmer Dargah, which comes close on the heels of similar claims made regarding the Sambhal mosque in UP.
Asked about claims over the shrine in Ajmer, Owaisi said the dargah exists for 800 years and (Sufi poet) Amir Khusro had also mentioned about it dargah in his book.
"Now they say that it is not a dargah. If this is so, where is this going to stop? Even prime ministers send 'chadar' to this dargah during 'Urs'. What will the Modi government say when they send the chadar every year?" he sought to know.
"If the Buddha and Jain community people go to court (in such a manner), they will also claim (some) places. So, an Act was brought in 1991 that the nature of a religious place will not be changed and it will remain as it was on August 15, 1947," he said.
Owaisi said such issues weaken the country and BJP leaders should stop going this.
"There are problems like inflation, unemployment, farmer suicides, China becoming powerful. But they put the people at work for this (survey of religious places). I earlier said after the judgement in the Babri case that more such incidents may pop up now," he said.
Notably, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday expressed concern over the declining population growth and said India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR), the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime, should be at least 3, well above the present one of 2.1.
To a query on it, Owaisi said, "Now those in the RSS should start marrying. Their (BJP) MPs say that no one having more than two children should be given the benefit of government schemes. They should stick to one policy."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha seeks Rajya Sabha debate on Bangladesh ISKCON arrests, atrocities against Hindu
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha has submitted a Suspension of Business notice in the Rajya Sabha to discuss and condemn the recent arrests of ISKCON priests in Bangladesh, including Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was charged with sedition. The arrests have raised concerns about targeted actions against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
Chadha’s notice, submitted under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, called for suspending Zero Hour and the day’s scheduled business to address the issue. He urged the House to collectively discuss and denounce the detention of the priests, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested on November 25 for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. Following his bail denial, he was remanded to custody. On November 29, two other ISKCON monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, were also detained by police after meeting Chinmoy Krishna Das.
ISKCON Kolkata has expressed deep concern, stating that the arrests reflect increasing hostility towards minorities. The Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata, Radha Raman, shared a video detailing the arrests and their implications.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also voiced concern over rising extremist rhetoric and violence in Bangladesh.
