AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, religious scholars and leaders of various Muslims organisations have condemned demolition of two mosques in the premises of old secretariat in Hyderabad and demanded their immediate reconstruction. Hyderabad-based political outfit Majlis-Bachao Tehreek (MBT) sought the intervention of the Central Wakf Board in the matter and urged it to take appropriate action. “We are also lodging a complaint with the police against the chief minister and the state government for demolishing the mosques thereby hurting the sentiments of Muslims,” said MBT spokesperson Amjadulla Khan.
Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed regret over the damage caused to two mosques and a temple in the premises of Telangana secretariat which is being demolished to pave way for the construction of a new official complex.
“I am sorry about the incident. This happened unexpectedly. It should not have happened. The government’s intention is to build a new secretariat complex by demolishing the old buildings without causing any damage to the temple or the mosques,” an official release from the chief minister’s office quoting KCR said.
The state government on last Tuesday (July 7) began the demolition of the secretariat complex that is spread across 25 acres in the heart of Hyderabad. The High Court gave approval for the demolition on June 29. Two mosques and a temple inside the old secretariat complex were reportedly demolished The Nalla Pochamma temple also is located in the middle of the premises.
As per the plan prepared by the government for the construction of the new secretariat, it was decided to demolish the two mosques and a temple and construct them on some other place. Notably the government did not consult with the religious personalities or Islamic scholars before demolition of the places of worship. The government demolished the mosques keeping Muslims in the dark.
According to sources, the copies of Quran and jaenamaz (prayer mats) were shifted to some other place before carrying out the demolition. It must be noted that regular prayers were offered at both the mosques before the imposition of corona lockdown, but after the lockdown both were locked and no one was allowed to visit them.
Government should have consulted Muslim representatives and taken them into confidence before carrying out demolition of the places of worship. At the time of shifting of other offices of the secretariat when the issue of the mosque came to light, the then deputy chief minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali had assured that mosque will remain at their own places and the government will reconstruct mosques along with the new complex but no sign of construction of mosques is evident from the approved map of the new secretariat.
Shifting of mosques is a matter of shariah and the government should have consulted Islamic scholars and muftis before taking any decision. It remains to be seen what stand the parties and organisations supporting the government would take on the demolition of mosques by the government.
Meanwhile, Former Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir has strongly condemned the demolition of places of worship in the Secretariat complex.
Ali, in a media statement He, said that the GHMC authorities have razed two mosques and a temple, along with other structures, that were located in the premises of old Secretariat during the demolition drive being carried out since Monday midnight. “This is a breach of trust and open cheating by the TRS Government. When we raised this issue in the past, an assurance was given by some ministers that the two mosques and a temple would remain untouched even if the present structures were demolished. However, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao reportedly directed the authorities to raze all structures, including two mosques and a temple, to ground,” he alleged.
“Destroying a temple is a blasphemy. The KCR government has undertaken an insulting and insinuating act of demolishing Hindus’ place of worship unilaterally. He has considered neither the sanctity of the temple, emotions of those who pray there nor the sentiments of the Hindus in the state,” Rao said.
