Delhi govt. denies mala fide intent; Oppn. calls demolition near Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque ‘selective’

Tempers flared between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition on Wednesday after a court-ordered demolition of illegal structures near Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque at Turkman Gate triggered violence, leaving at least five police officers injured.

Condemning the violence, senior BJP leader and Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood said the mosque was not harmed during the anti-encroachement drive, and such a violent act by “criminal and mischievous elements” is completely unacceptable.

“I want to clearly state that the Faiz-e-llahi mosque is completely safe. The action is limited only to those illegal commercial establishments that fall within the scope of the court’s orders. There is no arbitrariness or mala fide intent on the part of the government in this matter,” he said. The Minister urged citizens not to fall prey to any kind of “provocation”.

AAP leader and Matia Mahal MLA Aaley Mohammad Iqbal, whose constituency includes the Turkman Gate area, said the demolition drive was “selectively targeted” at a specific community. “A marriage hall never existed there. A hall is a permanent structure. It is an open area. Whenever poor families need a place for weddings, the mosque committee opens that area for them,” he added.

‘Why at midnight?’

Congress secretary Abhishek Dutt asked why the demolition took place at night. “Whether it be Sainik Farms, Madrasi Camp, Indira Camp, or Turkman Gate, the demolitions are done at midnight to prevent a stay order,” he said.

Calling the demolitiondeeply disturbing, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the BJP government is executing the “divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar”.