– Special Correspondent
New Delhi, Dec. 28: Strongly opposing any move to remove the historic Sunehri Baghwali Masjid, BSP lawmaker Kunwar Danish Ali on Thursday dispatched a strong-worded letter to the chairman, Heritage Conservation Committee of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The Parliamentarian said he has been living in the area for last 25 years but there have been no significant complaints about traffic congestion around the Sunehri Masjid Roundabout that would justify the removal of a historically significant and archaeologically important Masjid.
Citing reasons for his opposition to the NDMC proposal, Danish Ali said the proposed removal raises concerns about the fairness of the process, especially considering the contribution of the Muslim community to nation-building and the ethos of India.
He said the civic body’s such measures, following assurances before the Delhi High Court that concerns raised by the Delhi Waqf Board were baseless, undermine public confidence in the process. It must be noted that the Heritage Committee is not a competent authority to issue such a notice published in Sunday’s newspapers. The attorney of Sunehri Masjid, Masroor Hasan Siddiqui said the notice is illegal and cannot stand to legal scrutiny.
