“Will embolden Sangh Parivar’s mischiefs”: AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi reacts to Allahabad HC’s verdict on Mathura survey

New Delhi [India], December 14 (ANI): After the Allahabad High Court approved the conduct of a scientific survey on the Shahi Idgah complex at Mathura, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday said that the judgement goes against the Places of Worship Act and will embolden “Sangh Parivar’s mischiefs”.

Reacting to the Allahabad HC’s verdict, the AIMIM chief posted on X, “Allahabad HC has allowed the survey of Mathura’s Shahi Idgah masjid. After Babri Masjid’s judgement, I’d said that it’ll embolden Sangh Parivar’s mischiefs. This is despite the Places of Worship Act prohibiting such litigation”.

Owaisi also shared the agreement on the Shri Krishna Janambhoomi case of October 1968 and said that the Mathura dispute was settled decades ago but there’s a new group that has been raking these disputes.

“The Mathura dispute was settled decades ago by mutual consent between the Masjid Committee and the temple’s Trust. A new group has been raking these disputes. Whether it is Kashi, Mathura or Lucknow’s Tiley Wali Masjid, it’s the same group. One can read the agreement here, which was settled before a court of law,” he said.

“The Places of Worship Act is still the law in force. But this group has made a mockery of the law and the judicial process. The SC was supposed to hear this matter on January 9, so what was the hurry that a survey had to be ordered?” the AIMIM chief added.

Owaisi urged not to preach “give and take” and said that robbing Muslims of their dignity is the only goal now.

“Please don’t preach “give and take” when one side is interested in constantly targeting Muslims But the law doesn’t matter anymore. Robbing Muslims of their dignity is the only goal now,” he said.

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday gave a key decision in the ongoing Shri Krishna Janambhoomi case, after it approved the conduct of a scientific survey on the Shahi Idgah complex at Mathura. The survey will be conducted in the same manner in which it has been done at the Gyanvapi Temple in Varanasi.

The court on Thursday appointed an advocate commissioner and gave in-principle approval for surveying the Shahi Idgah complex. The modalities of the commission of advocates for the survey will be decided on December 18.

“Allahabad HC has allowed our application where we had demanded a survey of (Shahi Idgah Masjid) by the advocate commissioner. The modalities will be decided on Dec 18. The court has rejected the arguments of Shahi Idgah Masjid. My demand was that in Shahi Idgah Masjid there are a lot of signs & symbols of the Hindu temple, and to know the actual position, an advocate commissioner is required. It’s a landmark judgement by the court.” said Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lawyer for the Hindu side.

Earlier on November 16, the Allahbad high court had reserved its order on the application moved by the Hindu side seeking the appointment of a court appointed advocate commissioner. The petitioners had sought the suvey of the Masjid contending that the land was part of the Shri Krishnajanmbhoomi and as such a place of worship for the Hindus. It has also been claimed that Shahi Eidgah Mosque was built on temple land during the reing of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Earlier the Allahabad High Court on May 26 had transferred to itself all the suits pending before the Mathura Court praying for various reliefs pertaining to the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah Mosque dispute.

On November 10, the Supreme Court listed the matter relating to Mathura’s Krishna Janambhoomi land dispute for further hearing on January 9, 2024. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia listed the matter for January 9. The court said that it appears that the matter would have to be heard and asked both parties to file a short synopsis.

The Committee of Management Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah had filed an appeal in the top court challenging the Allahabad High Court order, which transferred to itself all the petitions relating to Mathura’s Krishna Janambhoomi land dispute from District Court Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

So far, nine cases have been filed in Mathura Court in the cases of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Idgah Masjid.

Ranjana Agnihotri, a resident of Lucknow, had filed a suit demanding the ownership of 13.37 acres of land owned by Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi.

In her legal suit, Agnihotri demanded the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque built in Krishna Janmabhoomi.

The suit filed in the Mathura court sought the removal of a mosque said to have been built in 1669-70 on the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 13.37-acre premises of Katra Keshav Dev temple, near the birthplace of Lord Krishna.