Lucknow: Row over BJP govt's plan to install grand Lakshman statue near masjid

Lucknow, July 1: A proposal by a committee of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) to put up a giant statue of Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Ram, in a park in front of Teele Wali Masjid in Lucknow has rankled Muslim clerics.

According to Imam, Teele Wali Masjid said,''Statue of a grand personality as Lord Laxman should be put at an equally grand place. Tikonia park is small and used for offering 'Namaz'. Islam doesn't allow to offer prayers before a statue.''

The decision to install the state of Laxman comes after veteran BJP leader Lalji Tandon, in his book Ankaha Lucknow released last month, had mentioned that the Teele Wali Masjid had been constructed after demolishing the Laxman Teela.

Lucknow Mayor Sanyukta Bhatia had on Saturday said that, "Since Lucknow is known as the city of Laxman, it is perfectly in order to install a magnificent statue opf Laxman in the state capital". The Shahi Imam of the Teela Wali Masjid, Maulana Fazle Mannan said that the statue of Laxman right in front of the Teele Wali Masjid was an attempt to provoke Muslim sentiments.

He said that thousands offer prayers at the mosque on religious occasions and often spill over on to the roads during prayers. The move by the municipal corporation to set up the statue of Laxman is designed to instigate Muslims.