Save the Mosque! Owaisi Urges Kiren Rijiju to Stop Race Course Demolition
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi seeks Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's urgent intervention to save New Delhi's Race Course Mosque from demolition.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief, Asaduddin Owaisi, has made an urgent appeal to Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to intervene in the looming demolition of the Race Course Mosque in New Delhi. The call for action comes amid alarming reports that the central government's Land and Development Office (L&DO) is preparing to tear down the structure in the coming week.
The Alarm Bell: Reports of Imminent Demolition
The controversy erupted following a statement by Amanatullah Khan, an AAP MLA and former chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board. Khan revealed that he was informed by the mosque's imam, Maulana Haroon, that the L&DO is set to carry out the demolition shortly. Khan highlighted the historical significance of the site, noting that the mosque predates India's independence and is officially included in the New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) heritage list.
Owaisi’s Three Major Concerns
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Asaduddin Owaisi expressed deep concern over the administrative silence surrounding the issue. He outlined three critical points why the demolition should be halted and why the government must step in:
- Failure of the Waqf Board: Owaisi pointed out that the mosque has been a gazetted waqf property since 1977. Despite this legal status, the waqf board failed to challenge the demolition order or make any meaningful effort to resolve the dispute.
- Legal Protection: He argued that the mosque is protected under the Waqf Amendment Act as a 'waqf by user.' According to Owaisi, properties registered in the past under this category continue to be protected, yet no action was taken to safeguard the site.
- Administrative Vacuum: The AIMIM chief highlighted a significant governance gap, stating that the Delhi Waqf Board has not been constituted since 2023. He asserted that while the CEO of the Board could have intervened, they failed to do so, leaving the responsibility squarely on the Union Minister's shoulders.
A Call for Immediate Intervention
Given the absence of a functioning Delhi Waqf Board, Owaisi insists that it is now the Minister's job to resolve the matter. The situation has created a tense atmosphere as community leaders and political figures push for the preservation of the heritage structure against the L&DO's planned actions.
"Despite the masjid being a gazetted waqf property since 1977, the waqf board did not challenge the demolition order," Owaisi stated, emphasizing the negligence of the governing bodies.
As the deadline for the alleged demolition approaches, all eyes are now on the Ministry of Minority Affairs to see if an intervention will be made to save the historic Race Course Mosque.