Srinagar, Oct 22: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday strongly condemned the Union government’s decision to issue an eviction notice to a century-old mosque located near the Prime Minister’s residence in the national capital. Mufti alleged that the move demonstrates a profound insensitivity to the religious sentiments of the Muslim community in India.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that authorities have served an eviction notice to the Race Course Mosque, which is situated in close proximity to the Prime Minister’s official residence. The mosque has also reportedly had its water and electricity supply disconnected.
Mehbooba Mufti expressed her dismay through a post on the social media platform X, stating, “Visiting mosques in Muslim countries, praising their grandeur and projecting respect for Islamic sentiments and heritage. Yet at home, a 120 year old heritage mosque near the Prime Minister’s residence faces an eviction notice threatening its very existence. This glaring contradiction between admiration for mosques abroad and blatant disregard for the religious sentiments of India’s own Muslim community is mind boggling, to say the least.”
According to official sources, the management of the Race Course Mosque received the eviction notice on or around October 19, with a stipulated period of six days to vacate the premises. The notice reportedly identified the land as belonging to the Land and Development Office (LDO), an arm of the Union government, and cited unauthorised occupation and construction as grounds for the action.
The LDO’s stance, as communicated through the notice, is that the structure is situated on government land and is therefore considered an encroachment. This action has ignited criticism from political figures in the region, highlighting concerns over the treatment of religious structures and the perception of administrative actions affecting minority communities.
The Race Course Mosque, a landmark for over a century, holds historical and religious significance. Its proximity to one of the country’s most high-security areas has now placed it at the centre of a political controversy, with allegations of a selective approach towards religious sites and community sensitivities being voiced by opposition leaders.
The eviction notice signifies the Union government’s assertion of its land rights. The Land and Development Office functions under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and is responsible for the management and disposal of government land in designated areas of Delhi. The notice details that the mosque falls within land allocated to the LDO and that any structures occupying this land without proper authorisation are subject to removal.
The controversy underscores broader debates regarding urban development, land use, and the preservation of historical and religious sites in metropolitan areas. Critics argue that such actions can exacerbate existing social tensions and create an environment of alienation among certain communities. The response from political leaders like Mehbooba Mufti indicates a deepening political divide over issues concerning religious freedom and the administration’s policies towards minority religious institutions.
The timing of the eviction notice, coupled with the disconnection of essential services, has been viewed by many as a deliberate act intended to hasten the mosque’s removal. This situation has drawn attention to the potential for administrative decisions concerning land ownership to have significant cultural and religious repercussions, particularly in a diverse nation like India. The PDP chief’s statement reflects a sentiment that the government’s actions abroad, in projecting an image of religious tolerance, stand in stark contrast to its domestic policies concerning religious sites significant to its own citizens.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
