News Analysis India

Tag: mosque

  • Gyanvapi survey resumes on Day 3, mosque committee threatens boycott over ‘rumours’

    By PTI

    VARANASI: The Archaeological Survey of India resumed the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque here on the third day on Sunday to determine if the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure, even as the Muslim side warned they would boycott the entire exercise if “rumours” are spread that Hindu religious symbols and objects have been found.

    Government counsel Rajesh Mishra said that on Sunday the survey work began at around 8.00 am and will continue till 5.00 pm.

    Sudhir Tripathi, one of the advocates representing the Hindu side, said on Saturday that Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and other techniques and machines were used for the survey work on Saturday.

    The Hindu side is satisfied with the survey work so far, he said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Hope that floodgates for thousand Babris will not be opened’: Owaisi on Gyanvapi ASI survey

    Syed Mohammad Yasin, the Joint Secretary of the Anjuman Intezamia Committee, which manages the mosque, said on Sunday the Muslim side and its advocates participated in the survey on Sunday for the second day.

    The Muslim side did not participate in the survey on Friday.

    He alleged that a section of media on Saturday spread “rumours” that during the survey of the ‘tahkhaanaa’ (basement) on that day, idols, ‘trishul’ and ‘kalash’ were found.

    “If such acts are not contained, the Muslim side will once again boycott the survey work,” he said.

    The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the Allahabad High Court order on the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque, an exercise that the Muslim side says will “reopen wounds of the past”.

    The bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, however, asked the ASI not to carry out any invasive act during the survey.

    VARANASI: The Archaeological Survey of India resumed the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque here on the third day on Sunday to determine if the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure, even as the Muslim side warned they would boycott the entire exercise if “rumours” are spread that Hindu religious symbols and objects have been found.

    Government counsel Rajesh Mishra said that on Sunday the survey work began at around 8.00 am and will continue till 5.00 pm.

    Sudhir Tripathi, one of the advocates representing the Hindu side, said on Saturday that Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and other techniques and machines were used for the survey work on Saturday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Hindu side is satisfied with the survey work so far, he said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Hope that floodgates for thousand Babris will not be opened’: Owaisi on Gyanvapi ASI survey

    Syed Mohammad Yasin, the Joint Secretary of the Anjuman Intezamia Committee, which manages the mosque, said on Sunday the Muslim side and its advocates participated in the survey on Sunday for the second day.

    The Muslim side did not participate in the survey on Friday.

    He alleged that a section of media on Saturday spread “rumours” that during the survey of the ‘tahkhaanaa’ (basement) on that day, idols, ‘trishul’ and ‘kalash’ were found.

    “If such acts are not contained, the Muslim side will once again boycott the survey work,” he said.

    The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the Allahabad High Court order on the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque, an exercise that the Muslim side says will “reopen wounds of the past”.

    The bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, however, asked the ASI not to carry out any invasive act during the survey.

  • UP: Four held for disturbing peace outside mosque during Ram Navami procession 

    By PTI

    MATHURA (UP): Four men were arrested for disturbing the peace outside Jamal Masjid during a Ram Navami procession here in Uttar Pradesh, a police official said Friday.

    On Thursday, when a procession being carried out by the Ram Janma Mahotsav Samiti from the Ram temple located in the Ghiyamandi area, reached the Chowk Bazar intersection, some miscreants who were riding a van climbed on the roofs of shops built outside the mosque and hoisted saffron flags there.

    Video of the entire incident has been widely circulated on social media.

    This incident has stroked communal tensions among people of Hindu and Muslim communities, police said.

    Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shailesh Kumar Pandey said immediately after the incident, a large number of police forces were deployed on the spot and on the basis of the video footage, a case was registered against the four accused namely Kavya, Honey, Rajesh and Deepak for trying to disturb the peace.

    “The accused were arrested on Friday and sent to jail in judicial custody for disturbing peace,” said the officer.

    MATHURA (UP): Four men were arrested for disturbing the peace outside Jamal Masjid during a Ram Navami procession here in Uttar Pradesh, a police official said Friday.

    On Thursday, when a procession being carried out by the Ram Janma Mahotsav Samiti from the Ram temple located in the Ghiyamandi area, reached the Chowk Bazar intersection, some miscreants who were riding a van climbed on the roofs of shops built outside the mosque and hoisted saffron flags there.

    Video of the entire incident has been widely circulated on social media.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    This incident has stroked communal tensions among people of Hindu and Muslim communities, police said.

    Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shailesh Kumar Pandey said immediately after the incident, a large number of police forces were deployed on the spot and on the basis of the video footage, a case was registered against the four accused namely Kavya, Honey, Rajesh and Deepak for trying to disturb the peace.

    “The accused were arrested on Friday and sent to jail in judicial custody for disturbing peace,” said the officer.

  • Bajrang Dal, VHP cadres vandalize under-construction mosque in UP

    By Online Desk

    The cadres of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Wednesday vandalized an under-construction mosque located near the Balkhandi Naka area in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh.

    The video of the vandalism has gone viral on social media.

    The cadres went berserk even as the police officers, who were called to control the commotion, stood as mute spectators. 

    #bandapolice थाना कोतवाली नगर क्षेत्र की घटना के संबंध में वीडियो बाइट पुलिस अधीक्षक बांदा श्री अभिनंदन।#अभिनंदन #UPPolice pic.twitter.com/oYMmaLh50g
    — Banda Police (@bandapolice) February 16, 2023

    According to a report, the violent mob parked their bikes in the middle of the road and started yelling slogans against the construction of the mosque, which also caused hindrance in traffic movement.

    On information, police rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. But instead of controlling the unruly mob, the policemen remained a silent spectator to the acts of the right-wing group, ETV Bharat reported. 

    The cadres of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Wednesday vandalized an under-construction mosque located near the Balkhandi Naka area in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh.

    The video of the vandalism has gone viral on social media.

    The cadres went berserk even as the police officers, who were called to control the commotion, stood as mute spectators. 

    #bandapolice थाना कोतवाली नगर क्षेत्र की घटना के संबंध में वीडियो बाइट पुलिस अधीक्षक बांदा श्री अभिनंदन।#अभिनंदन #UPPolice pic.twitter.com/oYMmaLh50g
    — Banda Police (@bandapolice) February 16, 2023

    According to a report, the violent mob parked their bikes in the middle of the road and started yelling slogans against the construction of the mosque, which also caused hindrance in traffic movement.

    On information, police rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. But instead of controlling the unruly mob, the policemen remained a silent spectator to the acts of the right-wing group, ETV Bharat reported. 

  • Mathura: Counsel for Shahi Masjid Idgah says they will file objection to survey order 

    By PTI

    MATHURA: The counsel for Shahi Masjid Idgah on Sunday said they will file their objection on January 20 to the district court order on the submission of a survey report of Idgah.

    Civil judge senior division (III) Sonika Verma, who is hearing the suit Bal Krishna and others Vs Intezamia committee and others, had earlier directed a revenue department official to submit a survey report of the Shahi Idgah mosque complex on January 20.

    The petitioners had filed the suit seeking shifting of Shahi Masjid Idgah, constructed on a part of the 13.37 acre land of Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust allegedly after the demolition of Katra Keshav Dev temple by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

    The petitioners claim it is the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

    “We will file an objection against the order on January 20,” Tanveer Ahmad, secretary and counsel for Shahi Masjid Idgah, said on Sunday.

    The hearing in the case could not take place on December 22 as the judge was on leave on that day. The court has now fixed January 20, 2023 as the next date of hearing, when the survey report is to be filed.

    “The learned judge had ordered Amin (a term used to refer to a revenue department official) on December 8 to inform both the parties and submit a survey report on the next hearing,” the petitioners’ counsel Shailesh Dubey had said on Saturday.

    MATHURA: The counsel for Shahi Masjid Idgah on Sunday said they will file their objection on January 20 to the district court order on the submission of a survey report of Idgah.

    Civil judge senior division (III) Sonika Verma, who is hearing the suit Bal Krishna and others Vs Intezamia committee and others, had earlier directed a revenue department official to submit a survey report of the Shahi Idgah mosque complex on January 20.

    The petitioners had filed the suit seeking shifting of Shahi Masjid Idgah, constructed on a part of the 13.37 acre land of Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust allegedly after the demolition of Katra Keshav Dev temple by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

    The petitioners claim it is the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

    “We will file an objection against the order on January 20,” Tanveer Ahmad, secretary and counsel for Shahi Masjid Idgah, said on Sunday.

    The hearing in the case could not take place on December 22 as the judge was on leave on that day. The court has now fixed January 20, 2023 as the next date of hearing, when the survey report is to be filed.

    “The learned judge had ordered Amin (a term used to refer to a revenue department official) on December 8 to inform both the parties and submit a survey report on the next hearing,” the petitioners’ counsel Shailesh Dubey had said on Saturday.

  • Haryana wants wake-up ‘alarm’ for students by temples, mosques on exam day

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: In a move aimed at improving pass percentage of schools, the Haryana government has called for announcements by temples, mosques and gurdwaras to wake up students of classes 10 and 12 early so that they can prepare for their board exams to be held in March next year.

    The state education department has also asked school authorities concerned to ask parents to wake their wards up at 4.30 am to utilize early morning time for preparation.

    In a communication to principals of all government schools, the department stressed that a joint plan be made by parents and teachers so that students get some extra hours for self-study.

    “For this, morning time is most suitable. At that time, mind is fresh and there is no noise of vehicles. For this, every class teacher should request parents that they will wake up their children at 4:30 in the morning and will ask them to sit for studies by 5:15 am. The teachers will also enquire through WhatsApp groups whether the students have woken up and are studying or not. If parents are not cooperating, then it should be brought to the notice of the school management committee,” it said.

    The education department has also asked the panchayat members in villages to ensure that there is an environment of study during early morning hours in their villages.

    “Temples, mosques and gurdwaras should be approached for early morning announcements (through loudspeakers) so that students wake up and start studying. With this, each student is expected to get additional two to three hours (for studies),” said Director (secondary education) Anshaj Singh in a letter to all government school principals and district education officers.

    The letter further said it is the collective responsibility of the whole society to provide a proper environment for preparation of exams.

    Only societies that provide support in the education of children contribute to the progress of a nation, it added.

    In the communication issued on December 22, school principals were reminded that only 70 days are left for the board exams and were also asked to make action plans to improve the board exam results.

    CHANDIGARH: In a move aimed at improving pass percentage of schools, the Haryana government has called for announcements by temples, mosques and gurdwaras to wake up students of classes 10 and 12 early so that they can prepare for their board exams to be held in March next year.

    The state education department has also asked school authorities concerned to ask parents to wake their wards up at 4.30 am to utilize early morning time for preparation.

    In a communication to principals of all government schools, the department stressed that a joint plan be made by parents and teachers so that students get some extra hours for self-study.

    “For this, morning time is most suitable. At that time, mind is fresh and there is no noise of vehicles. For this, every class teacher should request parents that they will wake up their children at 4:30 in the morning and will ask them to sit for studies by 5:15 am. The teachers will also enquire through WhatsApp groups whether the students have woken up and are studying or not. If parents are not cooperating, then it should be brought to the notice of the school management committee,” it said.

    The education department has also asked the panchayat members in villages to ensure that there is an environment of study during early morning hours in their villages.

    “Temples, mosques and gurdwaras should be approached for early morning announcements (through loudspeakers) so that students wake up and start studying. With this, each student is expected to get additional two to three hours (for studies),” said Director (secondary education) Anshaj Singh in a letter to all government school principals and district education officers.

    The letter further said it is the collective responsibility of the whole society to provide a proper environment for preparation of exams.

    Only societies that provide support in the education of children contribute to the progress of a nation, it added.

    In the communication issued on December 22, school principals were reminded that only 70 days are left for the board exams and were also asked to make action plans to improve the board exam results.

  • Gyanvapi mosque case: Next hearing on July 12

    By PTI

    VARANASI: The district court here fixed July 12 as the next date for hearing the maintainability of the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri complex case as the Muslim side presented its arguments on Monday.

    Madan Mohan Yadav, the counsel for the Hindu side, said the Muslim side argued on the maintainability of the case during which they read out all points, including the petition filed on behalf of the Hindu side for allowing regular worship at the Gyanvapi mosque.

    They sought more time to present their arguments after which the court fixed July 12 as the next date for hearing, he said.

    Muslim side advocate Mohammad Tohid Khan said they read out all points in the court, which has given them time to present their arguments on July 12.

    Earlier, five women had filed a petition seeking permission for daily worship of Hindu deities whose idols are located on an outer wall of the mosque.

    A lower court had ordered a videography survey of the complex. The survey work was completed on May 16 and the report was presented in the court on May 19.

    The Hindu side had claimed in the court that a Shivling was found during the videography survey of the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri complex.

    On the order of the Supreme Court later, the matter is now being heard in the district judge’s court from May 23.

  • Closure of mosques on Fridays hurting religious sentiments of people in Valley: MMU

    The statement came after congregational prayers at the historic Jama Masjid in the Nowhatta area of the city and other major mosques and shrines were not allowed on Friday.

  • Bihar town rocked by blast inside desolate Madrassa

    By PTI
    PATNA: A desolate seminary attached to a mosque in south Bihar district of Banka was shattered by a huge explosion on Tuesday, though there were no casualties, police said.

    According to Banka Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar Gupta, the blast took place around 8 am at the complex situated in Nautolia locality, pulling down a major portion of the seminary.

    “The compound’s front portion comprises a Madrassa. It was locked from outside. There is a pathway inside which leads to the mosque, the gates of which were found open. The explosion has caused extensive damage to the seminary building,” Gupta told PTI-Bhasha over phone from Banka.

    He said “not a single man, including the Imam of the mosque” could be traced when a police party reached the spot.

    “We are trying to get details from residents of the neighbourhood. A team of forensic experts has been called to inspect the site. Till then, clearing of debris has been put on hold. Forensic examinations would ascertain what type of explosive material was used,” the SP added.

    Asked whether the blast resulted in injury to any resident of the neighbourhood or damage to adjoining structures, and if blood stains were found at the site of the explosion, Gupta replied in the negative.

    Places of worship as well as educational institutions across Bihar have remained closed for more than a month as the state is under a Covid-induced lockdown.