In a historic decision that cleared the way for a grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court had allotted separate land for a mosque as well. As a mark of communal harmony, some Hindus also donated money for the mosque to be built in Arabic style in Dhannipur, Ayodhya. On the other hand, some Muslim organisations are trying to create a controversy around the Ram Mandir by creating obstructions in the name of the Badr Mosque on the Ram Paripath in Ayodhya.
In the midst of these events, the Muslim community in Ayodhya also expressed their desire that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Ram temple in January 2024 for the consecration ceremony, he should also lay the foundation stone for the mosque in Dhannipur.
The Anjuman Muhafiz Masjid and Makabir Committee are stirring this controversy concerning the Ram temple before the consecration ceremony scheduled in January 2024. The group has lodged a complaint regarding the mosque’s presence in Ram Paripath, despite a written agreement having already been reached to relocate it with everyone’s consent.
This instance pertains to Masjid Badr situated in Panji Tola of Ayodhya. Positioned near the 13 km Ram Paripath that links Ayodhya to the Lucknow-Gorakhpur National Highway, this mosque is subject to controversy. Muslims claim that daily worship takes place at this site.
On Thursday (5th October), officials of Anjuman Muhafiz Mosque and Makabir Committee along with President Azam Qadri reached Ayodhya SDM Ram Kumar Shukla. In a memorandum, they alleged that the mosque was illegally sold to the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust.
In a complaint to the sub-collector, the committee members accused the mosque’s mutavalli Raees Ahmed and witness Noor Alam of cheating. The complainants said Raees Ahmed and Noor Alam had entered into an agreement with the Badr Mosque built on waqf land for Rs 30 lakh by cheating and misleading them.
Under this agreement, both of them have also been claimed to get an advance of Rs 15 lakh. The complaint contended that Raees and Noor Alam did not have the right to sell waqf land.
Anjuman Muhafiz Mosque and Makabir Committee have demanded the administration register an FIR against Raees and Noor Alam and take action. The committee’s memorandum has also appealed to ban the sale and purchase of mosque land.
Committee chairman Azam Qadri is responsible for the maintenance of all mosques, graveyards, dargahs and shrines in Ayodhya. Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board senior advocate Aftab Ahmed has also termed the attempt to sell or donate the land of the mosque as a crime. Aftab has also demanded action against Raees and Noor.
Ayodhya District Magistrate Nitish Kumar confirmed receiving a complaint from the Anjuman Muhafiz Mosque and Makabir Committee. He said that the investigation of the case has been handed over to SDM Enforcement Amit Singh. Further action will be taken on receipt of the report. At the same time, Ramjanmabhoomi police station in-charge has also said that the investigation is going on in the case.
What is there in the agreement
In this agreement done on 1st September 2023, Raees Ahmed described the mosque as 100 years old. In the papers, it has been reported that this mosque is dilapidated due to lack of money. A deadline of 6 months was set for the relocation of the mosque. In lieu of this, Rs 15 lakh was given to Raees as an advance.
Allegations are being made under false pretenses
The reaction of Raees Ahmed – the Mutavalli of the mosque – who is being accused in this case, has also come out. According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, he described the allegations against him as baseless. Raees claimed that his agreement was not to remove the mosque but to shift it. Raees said that half of the mosque has already gone into widening the road and not only the Badr Mosque but the entire mohalla is going to be taken over by the Ramjanmabhoomi Trust.
According to Raees Ahmed, the agreement to shift the mosque with the Ramjanmabhoomi Trust made on 1st September 2023, was not done by him alone, but it was done with the consent of everyone. According to him, during this agreement, the worshippers who came to the mosque were also present. Raees claimed that people associated with the Waqf Board also came in January when half of the mosque was supposed to go into the road.
Raees Ahmed claimed that Waqf officials had asked him to make a decision in matters related to the government considering the well-being of the mosque. Raees claimed that some people are now being misled and making fake allegations against him.
