New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Minority Congress concluded its public campaign, launched on December 6, advocating for implementation of Places of Worship Act, 1991. The closing event took place at the Constitution Club here Sunday, with a strong resolve to intensify efforts for the Act’s enforcement. Party leaders, intellectuals, and legal experts engaged in in-depth discussions about the law and its implications.
The event featured Professor Apoorvanand of Delhi University as the Chief Guest. He highlighted how the judiciary’s deviation from its constitutional role threatens democracy. Apoorvanand emphasised that attempts are being made to align justice with majoritarian perspectives, undermining the judiciary’s integrity. He noted that this danger extends beyond the Places of Worship Act to the everyday lives and homes of Muslims.
“The issue isn’t just the filing of petitions in contempt of the Act,” he said, “but the alarming void in societal and political discourse around this law.”
Supreme Court advocate Shariq Ahmed Abbasi provided a detailed analysis of the legal aspects of the Act. He cited cases like the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi and the Shahi Eidgah Masjid in Mathura, where courts have entertained petitions that directly challenge the Act. Abbasi argued that such decisions reflect judicial alignment with government agendas.
Shahnawaz Alam, Congress National Secretary and President of UP Minority Congress, criticised judiciary for selectively addressing issues. He pointed out that while courts take suo motu cognizance of wildlife concerns, they remain silent on contempt petitions targeting the country’s largest minority.
Congress National Secretary Pradeep Narwal warned against the potential chaos if other communities, like Dalits, began demanding the excavation of ancient Buddhist sites. He urged the government and BJP to respect Places of Worship Act and focus on pressing issues like unemployment and development.
Tauqeer Alam, another Congress National Secretary, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to protecting the Act and appealed to other political parties to join the cause.
India Tomorrow Hindi Editor Masihuzzama Ansari emphasised the responsibility of all secular parties to defend the law.
The Congress campaign included sending over 100,000 postcards to the Chief Justice of India, urging the Act’s implementation. The closing programme was conducted by UP Minority Congress Vice President Akhlaq Ahmed and Dr. Khalid Mohammad Khan.
In its concluding resolution, the organisation called on national leaders to organise larger events for the Act’s implementation. They stressed that, having passed the law, Congress bears the primary responsibility for defending it.
