Case to be heard in the Court to allow Hindus to pray at the Jama mosque of Badaun (UP)
The mosque was built after destroying the Neelkanth temple
Lucknow – In August 2022, Mukesh Patel, the State convener of the Hindu Mahasabha, filed a petition demanding that Hindus be allowed to offer prayers at the Jama Masjid (mosque) Shamsi and that the mosque be surveyed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). TheNeelkanth temple existed at thesite where the mosque is standing currently. In his petition, Patel said that Qutbud-Din Aibak’s son-in-law Iltutmish demolished the temple and built a mosque there. Hence, hedemanded that Hindus be allowed to offer prayers at the mosque. The Hindu Mahasabha has presented several proofs of the presence of a temple at the site of the mosque. The case will be heard on 6thJanuary, 2024.
The Jama Masjid Intezamia Committee, District Administration, Waqf Board and the ASI have presented their views before the Court on behalf of the Jama Masjid. The Jama Masjid Shamsi management has demanded that the petition be dismissed.
| Editorial Perspective
Most of the mosques in India have been built by demolishing temples. Hindus are now trying to restore the temples through legal means. Hindus expect the Government to note this, enlist all such temples in India and try to restore them. |