Sunni Board voices concern over moves to reclaim Kashi, Mathura

Ayodhya: Amidst the Kashi and Mathura shrines being dragged into fresh legal dispute, just months after the apex court’s Ayodhya verdict, Sunni Central Waqf Board expressed concern over moves to reclaim religious structures and sought strict implementation of Places of Worship Act, 1991, which was reiterated by Supreme Court in its November-2019 verdict on the Ayodhya title suit.

In an exclusive chat with TOI, chairman of Sunni Central Waqf Board, Zufar Farooqui, who is also president of the Indo Islamic Cultural Foundation, said, “The Places of Worship Act aims to freeze the status of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.”

“The Supreme Court too invoked this law in its Ayodhya verdict while mandating construction of temple at Ramjanmabhoomi premises to preempt new claims by any group,” he added.

Talking about recent litigation to reclaim the Gyanvapi masjid in Varanasi and Shahi Eidgah in Mathura, Farooqui said, “The Sunni Waqf Board will be dealing with the court cases, but since the Places of Worship Act is in place, the law must be implemented to stop attempts to change status of mosques in India.”

Farooqui, who’s also president of the Trust mandated to construct a mosque in Ayodhya in lieu of the Babri mosque, said: “We are working on a war footing to begin construction of the mosque and other public facilities in the 5acre land in Dhannipur village in Ayodhya. The blueprint has been finalized and will be presented next month. We are seeking advice from international experts to make the facility world class.”

The new mosque will be bigger than Babri masjid, but won’t be a lookalike of the structure which once stood in Ramjanmabhoomi premises. The hospital of course will hold centrestage and will serve people in the true spirit of Islam as taught by the prophet.

“The hospital won’t be a usual concrete structure, but will be in sync with the architecture of the mosque, replete with calligraphy and Islamic symbols,” said Farooqui.

“It will house a 300-bed speciality unit, where doctors will work with missionary zeal to provide free treatment to the ailing,” he added.

The master plan will be designed to house an archive, museum and community kitchen. The archive and museum will exhibit contributions of Muslims to nation building, Indian culture and freedom struggle and of course Sufi saints who spread love and harmony.