Bureau Report
NEW DELHI: Municipal officials have sealed a mosque in Belagavi district in the Indian state of Karnataka alleging converting a private house into a Masjid is a violation of norms.
BJP leaders and Hindu activists have objected to the conversion of a residential house into a mosque. They claim that they have problems wherever Muslims pray.
Fulfilling the demands of the Hindu extremists, the municipality officials sealed the building just after five days it opened in Sarathinagar of Belagavi.
Last week, the former BJP MLA and several Hindu groups raised objections to the conversion of a residential house into a mosque that it ‘Fathima Masjid’. Now, Hindu groups have demanded that the Belagavi district administration and corporation should vacate the mosque.
The authorities cited that the nature of the structure was changed without intimating the agency. They stated that the conversion of a residential house into a mosque is ‘illegal’ and not acceptable.
Locals claim that the property’s owner donated it to the Moulana Abdul Kalam Educational and Charitable Society. But it was converted into a mosque and handed over to the Waqf Board.
The activists have held a meeting with the local residents in this regard and started a movement to vacate the masjid from the locality under the leadership of former BJP MLA Sanjay Patil.
Known scholar Prof Dr Ashok Swain also raised the issue on social media.
Taking to Twitter, Professor of peace and conflict research at Uppsala University Sweden Ashok Swain highlighted the act of Hindu extremists.
Sri Ram Sena Founder Pramod Muthalik said “he has no objection to building a mosque according to law. But, he can’t agree with the conversion of a residential house into a mosque.” He has given one week’s deadline for the mosque. As per reports, locals alleged that the authorities have turned a blind eye to the development, accusing the Congress MLA of Belagavi Rural constituency Lakshmi Hebbalkar of pressurising the authorities not to take any action against the Fatima mosque.
“Locals said that complaints were raised for over one year, but no action was taken,” reports say.
As per the locals, the property was gifted by the owner to Moulana Abdul Kalam Educational and Charitable Society. However, it was converted into a mosque. A notice has been issued by the corporation regarding the building license violation and carrying out religious activities on the property meant for residence, reported the news agency.
Notably, Belagavi is a stronghold of the ruling BJP. In the 2018 elections, the party won 10 of the 18 seats in the district. As the state is scheduled for assembly elections in May this year, the BJP will be trying to stay in power.
