Ruckus during ‘Juma’ prayers as BJP goons of Wakf Board chairman tried to take control of historic EC road mosque in Doon

Ruckus during ‘Juma’ prayers as BJP goons of Wakf Board chairman tried to take control of historic EC road mosque in Doon
S.M.A.KAZMI
Dehradun, April 18
The efforts by the people associated with ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to take control of the Wakf properties including mosques had its’ consequences as fisticuffs, unruly scences and violence was witnessed at old Afghan mosque situated on East Canal Road, during Friday prayers.
A henchmen of Uttarakhand Wakf Board Chairman Shadab Shams and his crony Islamuddin Ansari, tried to disrupt the weekly Friday congregational prayers by insisting that their own Imam would lead the prayers instead of the mosque Imam who had been doing it for the past 16 years.
This created an unsavoury situation with people resisting the attempt to replace the Imam. Blows were exchanged and the BJP goons even came with two women who also joined the fist fight within the mosque just as the Imam was to start the prayers. Police arrived in the mosque and intervened to keep peace. Finally, it was decided that a neutral person should lead the Friday prayers. However this created a wave of anger and disgust amongst the Muslim community members. A complaint was lodged with the concerned police station against trouble makers who tried to disrupt peaceful prayers and action was sought against one Rashid Ansari to led them.
Interestingly, while the Wakf Amendment Act was passed recently, there had been attempts by Uttarakhand Wakf Board Chief Shadab Shams to take control of mosques and other wakf institutions by installing his own henchmen. He has been working overtime to prove to be more loyal than than the king by giving contrivesial statement to please his BJP and RSS bosses including the one to teach Gita and Sanskrit in ‘Madrassas’ in Uttarakhand.
The Muslims of Dehradun has earlier written to the state government against the arbitrary conduct of the Chairman of Uttarakhand Wakf Board in appointing ‘Mutwallis’ (caretakers) of various mosques in the state. The position of ‘Muttwalli’ of a mosque or a religious place amongst Muslims is a highly respected and responsible position primarily to upkeep and maintain the place of worship and this job is done purely on voluntary basis.
The issue of appointment of ‘Mutwalli’ of historic mosque situated on EC Road, Dehradun has agitated the Muslims. The mosque was built by the Afghan rulers who were interned by the Britishers adjacent to their place of residence on EC road.

The present incumbent Chairman of Uttarakhand Wakf Board has been trying to foist his own henchmen at such revered positions. Recently, he has tried to impose a controversial person as ‘Mutwalli’ of EC Road mosque much to the opposition of the locals and ‘Namazis’ who perform their prayers in the said mosque. The ‘Mutwalli’ being appointed for the mosque had been state president of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) , a Bihar based political outfit with a dubious past.
Earlier, the board chairman had earned disrepute for himself, the board and Utttarakhand by appointing one of his close confident as ‘Mutwalli’ of Vikasnagar mosque much against the wishes of the local Muslim population. To the horror of the community, soon after his appointment the said person was arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police in an alleged theft case much to the embarrassment of the entire community. The Muslim community of Vikasnagar had protested against his appointment but to no avail.
Now, the Chairman is again bent upon having another of his henchman appointed as ‘Mutwalli’ of EC Road Mosque much against the wishes and sentiments of the local Muslim community resulting in unsavoury and unpleasant of today in the mosque which is considered a house of Allah.
Javed Alam, advocate, a member of the managing committee of the mosque said that it was an attempt to usurp the mosque and its properties. “ If the wakf board had reconstituted the managing committee of the mosque, it should notify and take charge from us. They would be answerable to the community. It is most unfortunate that such situation was created and even women were used to take control of the mosque,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rashid Ansari, the person who created the ruckus during Friday prayers rang up The Northern Gazette to clarify that he is not associated with BJP. Instead , he said that he had been associated with the student wing of Congress namely National Students Union of India (NSUI) and presently an office bearer of Indian Youth Congress.