Authorities in an Indian state banned Muslims from praying at an 800-year-old mosque, JEE News reported on Saturday, in the latest attack on the minority community by the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to JEE News, the district collector in Jalgaon in BJP-ruled Maharashtra issued an interim stay order while hearing a complaint filed by a right-wing organisation.
The government official immediately banned the prayer under Section 144 of the Penal Code, summoned the police to the area, and asked the Tehsildar to take charge of the mosque, claiming it was “controversial”.
This order and the Collector’s powers have been challenged in the Bombay High Court.
But Aslam, a member of the Juma Masjid Trust, fears that the latest move against the Muslim community is “the beginning of centuries-old mosque sectarianism in the state”.
Aslam, for as long as he can remember, has seen Muslims praying five times a day inside the Juma Masjid in Erndol, Jalgaon.
The 800-year-old mosque is registered under the Waqf Board and is an essential place of worship for the local people.
“Panduvada Sangharash Samiti”, an unregistered organisation, had filed a petition against the mosque, plunging the centuries-old mosque into controversy.
Complainant Prasad Madhusudan Dandavate filed the complaint before Collector Aman Mittal in May.
According to his Facebook profile, the complainant is a member of the extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal.
In his complaint, Dandavate claimed that the mosque was built on a Hindu place of worship and was illegal and should be taken over by the state authorities.
The complainant also claims that the Juma Masjid Trust has “illegally” encroached on the site.
Trust members of the mosque told JEE News that they were not aware of the complaint until they received the district collector’s notice in June.
“By that time, the collector was already holding the hearing. In a limited time, we were asked to defend our case. And on July 11, the collector issued a mere restraining order,” said Aslam, who is one of the ad hoc members. The Trust Committee said.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has also supported the Trust’s claims that it is an ancient structure.
The Waqf Board, under which the mosque is registered, has also challenged the District Collector’s powers.
“The Collector can interfere here to the extent of handling law and order aspects; everything else is the responsibility of the Waqf Board. The property is registered with the Board since 2009 and there is no ambiguity in this aspect,” said Moin Tehsildar, Board. KCEO told JEE News.
