The Hindu : New Delhi News : Jama Masjid re-development plan “anti-people”

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Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008
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Jama Masjid re-development plan “anti-people”

Staff Reporter

Reminiscent of the Emergency days: Shoiab Iqbal

“Monument might collapse due to digging within 30 metres of the mosque”
“No satisfactory answer to several queries such as accommodation facilities for Ajmer pilgrims”

NEW DELHI: Even as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi prepares to embark on its Jama Masjid re-development plan, Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Shoiab Iqbal has condemned the civic body’s initiative, calling it “anti-people and anti-Jama Masjid”.

In a statement, Mr. Iqbal said experts had pointed out that if comprehensive digging (up to around 60 metres depth) was done within 30 metres of the mosque, the monument might collapse.

“I agree with the experts since the impact used to break rocks and the resulting vibrations may harm the mosque structure. The re-development plan reeks of mischief and is reminiscent of the Emergency days when attempts to disperse Muslims and their culture were made,” said Mr. Iqbal.

‘Erroneous news report’

The Deputy Speaker said MCD Nodal Officer Vijay Singh had assured at a recent meeting with Delhi’s Lieutenant-Governor that there were no plans to either demolish or force occupants out of the area and that the misgivings about widespread demolition in the Jama Masjid precinct had germinated from an erroneous article published in an English language daily.

The Nodal Officer then assured that he would review the Deputy Speaker’s claims that almost all buildings in the said area belonged to the Mughal, Colonial and post-Independence period and were, hence, to be conserved.

According to Mr. Iqbal, Mr. Singh had no satisfactory answer to several queries such as accommodation facilities for Ajmer Urs pilgrims post-redevelopment and the financial implications of shifting shopkeepers of Meena Bazaar to air-conditioned markets.

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