SP condemns demolition of mosque in Delhi

Lucknow, Jan 15 (PTI) Condemning the demolition of amosque in Delhi by the DDA, Samajwadi Party today said thematter could have been sorted out through negotiations andasked Centre and state government to rebuild the structure.

"The demolition on the Noor Masjid in the dead of nighton the directives of the chief minister of Delhi has increaseda sense of insecurity among Muslims and had the Delhigovernment let the court know the ground realities, thedemolition could have been averted," SP chief Mulayam SinghYadav told newspersons here.

The mosque was demolished by Delhi Development Authorityin south-east Delhi''s Jangpura-B Block area on Wednesday onorders of Delhi High Court, amidst heavy police presence.

However, six persons, including four policemen, were injuredafter agitators took to stone-pelting protesting thedemolition.

Yadav who visited the Jama Masjid yesterday where aroundtwo lakh Muslims offered Friday prayers and met the Shahi Imamcompared the demolition of the Noor Masjid with the Ayodhyademolition carried out 18 years ago terming it as "secondAyodhya case".

To a question that the demolition was carried out onDelhi High Court orders, Yadav said courts have delivereddecisions on religious matters in the past also butnegotiations are a better way to sort them out.

Attacking the Congress, Yadav alleged that whenever theparty has been at the helm, such issues have cropped up andcited the "shilanayas", opening of locks and demolition inAyodhya.

Yadav appealed to the Central and Delhi governments totake an initiative to sort the matter by satisfying Muslimsand demanded that the mosque be rebuilt.

The SP chief also extended his greetings to the UttarPradesh chief minister Mayawati on her 55th birthday.

"Janmdin par apni shubhkamanayen deta hoon, woh swasthyaaur prasann rahen aur unko sadbuddhi bhi mile" (I extend mybest wishes, hope she remains healthy and happy and getwisdom), he remarked.

The SP however has said there is misuse of massivegovernment funds on Mayawati''s birthday celebrations and alsoalleged that officials were pressurised to "extort" money frompeople.