Another ‘Mandir-Masjid’ dispute takes political turn

(With Pix)Rajiv Srivastava & Pathikrit ChakrabortyLucknow: Yet another mandir-masjid dispute brewing in Malihabad -- the mango belt on the outskirts of Lucknow -- has put political parties, especially the INDIA bloc, in a bind. Since the dispute over this old structure has brought local Muslims and Pasi Dalits face-to-face, taking a stand is difficult for the Samajwadi Party.Muslims are an integral part of its PDA (backwards, Dalits, minorities) bouquet while a large number of Pasis also backed it in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, ensuring its biggest-ever win in UP. BJP, on the hand, is smelling a win-win situation and opportunity to win back Pasis, who had been its supporters for the past several elections, but drifted away in 2024.As of Friday, the local administration had sealed the structure, not allowing anyone to visit the premises for namaz or prayer.The Pasis, led by Lakhan Army functionary Suraj Pasi, claim that the structure in Kasmandi Kala village of Malihabad is an ancient fort with a Lord Shiva temple, built in the 11th century by King Kansa Pasi. However, Muslim residents assert that it is an old mausoleum and mosque that has existed for centuries.The Muslim side claims that the land was registered as a graveyard in the waqf record and namaz was being offered at the adjacent mosque, the local Pasis say that namaz started only a few years ago and are seeking an ASI survey and carbon dating.Tension escalated over the issue when members of Lakhan army started reciting Hanuman Chalisa near the structure to counter the namaz being offered there. Malihabad SHO Surendra Singh Bhati told TOI that police sealed the disputed site to maintain law and order in the area. He said that neither members of the Muslim community would be allowed to offer namaz nor members of the Hindu community permitted to recite the Hanuman Chalisa at the location.A company of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has been deployed to prevent any untoward incident. Bhati added that police sealed all routes leading to the disputed structure and strengthened security arrangements to ensure peace and prevent any breach of public order.Samajwadi Party MP from Mohanlalganj, RK Chaudhary, told TOI that a “big agency” could be behind the dispute and alleged that such a large-scale controversy could not have emerged without the backing of the BJP. He claimed the BJP was trying to derive political advantage from the situation.Observers say the controversy has the potential to strain the Muslim–Dalit social alignment seen in pockets of the state during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which benefitted the India bloc and caused the BJP’s tally in UP to drop from 62 to 33 seats. SP recorded its highest-ever haul of 37 seats.Analysts attributed the results partly to a shift in support among OBC groups such as Kurmis, Rajbhars and Kushwahas, as well as sections of non-Jatav Dalits — particularly the Pasi community, which is the second-largest Dalit subgroup in the state, constituting 5% of the total voting population.The shift was seen as a key factor in BJP’s losses in constituencies like Mohanlalganj (reserved), Barabanki and Ayodhya. While SP candidates RK Chaudhary and Awadhesh Prasad won Mohanlalganj and Ayodhya respectively, Barabanki went to Congress candidate Tanuj Punia, whose party was part of the India bloc.Chaudhary reiterated that the controversy aligns with what he described as the BJP’s agenda of polarisation. “All communities should live in harmony. Humanity is the biggest religion,” he said, adding that he had received a memorandum from Suraj Pasi and would consult senior party functionaries, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, on the issue.Former Union minister and ex-MP from BJP, Kaushal Kishore, dismissed the allegations as baseless. He said the demand from the Pasi community was limited to protecting the fort associated with King Kansa Pasi through agencies like the Geological Survey of India. “In 2025, I invited former Deputy CM Dr Dinesh Sharma at the place and held programmes demanding protection of various forts and buildings built by Pasi rulers,” he added.Responding to the controversy, Suraj Pasi said his focus remained on securing protection for the fort. “If the structure is protected under the current government, the community will appreciate it. I have also written to MPs from the Pasi community seeking their support on the issue and ensuring that the fort is protected,” he said.