Mumbai: The trustees of Abu Bakr Siddiq Masjid and Madrasa in Ganesh Nagar, Kandivali West, have approached the Waqf Tribunal demanding the right to resume prayers in the mosque that has remained locked for months. The tribunal will hear the matter on September 19. The trustees say the mosque, registered with both the Charity Commissioner and the Waqf Board, has held daily prayers, Friday congregations, and Eid prayers since before 1991.
Tensions began when local groups linked to Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal staged protests and forced the suspension of prayers. The trustees allege that police supported these groups by refusing protection unless a court order was obtained, warning instead of action against trustees if law and order issues arose.
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has also filed a case in the High Court, claiming the mosque structure involves illegal construction. The trustees reject this charge, pointing out that while entire housing societies in the locality have added two to three floors to their buildings, the mosque structure only involved combining three small rooms. “Why does MHADA ignore the illegal expansions of housing societies but target a mosque? This is open bias,” said trustee Haji Usman Momin.
He explained that letters were sent to senior police officials, the Chief Minister, and other authorities, but no relief followed. Local MLA Yogesh Sagar also opposed the mosque in the state assembly, telling trustees that since Muslims are now a small minority in the society, allowing prayers would create unrest. The community’s presence has sharply declined since the 1992 riots, leaving only two Muslim families in the society today.
The trustees stress that their fight is for a constitutional right. “We want to perform prayers as before. This is our democratic and legal right as Indians,” said Momin. Supporters like Jamil Merchant helped register the mosque with the Waqf Board, preventing a demolition attempt by MHADA in the past. The trustees hope the tribunal will deliver a fair decision that allows the reopening of the mosque.
