BJP MLA cleans ASI-protected Alamgir mosque in Kashi, Muslims object

VARANASI: Cleaning operation on the compound of ASI protected Alamgir (Dharahara) Masjid, a Waqf property, at Varanasi's Panchganga Ghat by BJP MLA Neelkanth Tiwari and his supporters on Monday was seen by members of Muslim community as a repercussion of the recent amendments in Waqf law and they voiced concern over the act.
Joint secretary of the Gyanvapi mosque management committee S M Yaseen urged Supreme Court to take note of the incident describing it as an unauthorised attempt to enter Waqf property and pointed out that the MLA and his supporters entered the mosque compound without taking their shoes off and wielded brooms that are used for cleaning dirty streets.
‘Exercise part of cleanliness drive ahead of PM’s visit’
The MLA, on the other hand, described the exercise as part of the cleanliness drive at Panchganga Ghat ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's April 11 visit and insisted that all footwear was removed before entering the mosque area.
"What the MLA did is highly objectionable and we have appealed to the Supreme Court to take note, as this is the first repercussion of passing of Waqf Bill in Parliament," said S M Yaseen, joint secretary of Anjuman Intezamia Masajid (Gyanvapi mosque management committee).
He added, "Despite the matter of the new Waqf Act being heard in SC, the ruling party has started showing high-handedness and they entered a Waqf property without permission and without taking off footwear, in disregard to a place of worship."
Police guards deployed for mosque security did not show courage to stop the MLA and his supporters from entering the premises, said Yaseen, adding, "The MLA kept sweeping amid chanting of slogans by BJP supporters."
Alamgir Masjid's caretaker Rashid Ali said on Tuesday, "The BJP MLA, along with around 20 supporters, entered the compound without seeking permission from us and started sweeping the mosque compound with the same broom used for cleaning streets. It is unfair and insulting. We did not raise objection immediately as we maintain cordial relations with locals and did not want to create disturbance."
On being contacted, Tiwari said, "Under the ongoing special cleanliness drive launched in view of the party's foundation day celebration and the proposed arrival of the PM on Apr 11, cleaning of the area in Panchganga Ghat and adjoining areas by me and BJP workers was scheduled on Monday. We noticed dirt on the mosque compound, so we cleaned it. The claim that we did not take off slippers is incorrect."
He said the cleaning was done only on the outer platform. The MLA also mentioned that there's a video that shows him and his supporters taking their shoes off.
While Ali said the matter was taken up with senior religious authorities and clerics to decide future course of action, Yaseen said, "We are trying to bring the matter to the knowledge of SC through advocates pursuing cases of challenging the Waqf Act there."