Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Karnail Sing, along with a large group of people on Friday razed down the structure describing it as the boundary walls of an under-constructed madrassa near a mosque at the Ramlila Ground in outer Delhi’s Pitampura. The MLA alleged that the madrassa had been built illegally on Delhi Development Authority (DDA) land.
However, both the caretaker of the mosque and the imam of the mosque have denied the claim. The sequence of the incident as described by both the caretaker and imaan, started when BJP MLA Karnail Singh, along with a group of people came towards isolated land surrounded by the boundary, situated approximately 50 metres away from the mosque, hurling religious chants and reciting Hanuman chalisa ( a sacred Hindu devotional hymn composed of 40 verses).
“About 50 meters in front of the mosque, there is a plot of land with a boundary wall. They went towards it shouting slogans and climbed over it and broke it down, saying that the land belongs to the mosque people and that they were building a madrassa there,” the mosque secretary said, talking to FoEJ Media.
“But the mosque has no connection with this. Who actually owns this land can only be answered by the DDA authority and other concerned authorities,” he added.
The group reportedly after razing the structure came inside the mosque where the preparation for Friday prayers were in swing.
“After breaking the boundary wall, they came into the mosque and started saying that outsiders come here to offer prayers and that outsiders will not be allowed to pray here.”
“What is being said is that the land belongs to the mosque and a madrassa was being built there is baseless. “The mosque has nothing to do with it,” talking about the allegation, the imam said, talking to FoEJ Media.
“Nothing like this has ever happened here before. “Everyone has been living together very peacefully,” he added.
Meanwhile, speaking to Hindustan Times, MLA Karnail Singh, from the Shakur Basti Assembly constituency in the area, said, “I believe in Sanatan Dharma and will not let any illegal madarsa be built in our area.” I had waited for the authorities to act for four months, but when they didn’t, we had to take matters into our own hands. I take responsibility and am not scared of any repercussions.”
“I have documents showing the land is with DDA only. How can anyone start building an illegal madrasa? I have no problem with the mosque. People can do whatever they want but I will take action against illegal structures,” he said.
“As per our inquiry, the land is under DDA, and the property is disputed. We have written to DDA around three or four times to clarify if it’s still under them or with a private person or religious organization. There was no madrasa. It was only a boundary wall,” DCP (outer) Vikram Singh said.
“It’s just a private property whose ownership is under dispute in the high court. So, we are still waiting for the DDA reply and will then approach the owners,” he said, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
