New Delhi/Varanasi, Feb. 5: A delegation of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) under the leadership of Secretary General, T. Arif Ali visited the Gyanvapi Masjid. The JIH delegation met Mufti-e-Banaras, Mufti Abdul Batin Nomani, and Joint Secretary of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee Maulana Syed Muhammad Yasin and received first-hand information from them.
The JIH Secretary General said, “The decision of the Varanasi District Court to open the basement of the Masjid for pooja was violative of the law and completely illegal. Parliament had approved the Places of Worship Act 1991 for the preservation of the religious character of places of public worship as they existed on August 15, 1947. The same was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of India in its verdict on Babri Masjid. However, now – but now all this is being violated. In the case of Gyanvapi Masjid, the decision of Varanasi District Court amounts to contempt of court as the Supreme Court in its judgment had ruled that no sub-court has the power to change its verdict. The Supreme Court of India should take action in the matter and punish those who have violated its judgment.”
Maulana Muhammad Yasin recounted the details of the case – how the Varanasi District Court allowed pooja in the basement of the Masjid on the last day of the judge’s tenure and asked the Varanasi District Administration to facilitate the pooja within 7 days. When the District Magistrate (Collector) was contacted in this regard, he assured the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee that the Administration had one whole week to implement the court orders. However, suddenly within hours, he ordered the cutting of steel barricades and installing of the idol in the basement, and opening it for worship.
Maulana Yasin said, “The whole exercise was wrong and insulting. Despite the adverse court verdict, Muslims are being cautious and telling their youth not to take any emotional steps. We are taking legal recourse and approaching the High Court and the Supreme Court.”
This delegation consisted of JIH National Secretary Maulana Muhammad Shafi Madani, JIH (UP-East) President, Malik Faisal Falahi, JIH Markazi Shoora member, Mujtaba Farooq and Secretary Shariah Council, Maulana Muhammad Raziul Islam Nadvi. The delegation later visited the Gyanvapi Masjid and offered the Zuhr and Asr prayers there.
