Sonia urged to help rebuild Asind mosque

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, AUG. 15. Muslim organisations in Rajasthan have asked the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, to help rebuild the mosque on the Sawai Bhoj temple premises in Asind town of Bhilwara soon. The mosque, demolished by Gujjars on July 27, should be built at the same site, not elsewhere, they said in a memorandum.

``It was the State Government's duty to rebuild the mosque at the same site without delay. The delay of each day would weaken the trust of the minorities and the weaker sections in the Congress Government of Rajasthan,'' said the memorandum signed by the representatives of nine Muslim organisations.

``You can very well understand the feelings and sentiments of Muslims in this regard. It has reminded us of the Babri Masjid demolition and the role of the Congress Government at the Centre at that time,'' they said.

The organisations are: the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind; the All-India Milli Council; the Jamia Hidayat, Jaipur; Darul Uloom Rizviya, Jaipur; the Rajasthan Madrasa Board, the Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Foundation; the Muslim Progressive Front; the Thaffuz- e-Auqaf Committee; and the Rajasthan Minorities Vikas Manch.

``We wish to clarify that a mosque always remains a mosque, whether prayers are offered in it or not, and there is no classification of mosques,'' they said referring to the argument that the 400-year-old wall was a ``qalandari'' mosque and no prayers were offered in it for years.

``It is our feeling that the State Government is under pressure from the communal forces and the criminals responsible for this heinous act,'' said Mr. Mohammed Saleem, State president of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, who signed the memorandum as the convener of the Muslim organisations.

The organisation appreciated various steps taken by the Rajasthan Government in the past in the interest of Muslims such as curbing communal riots, lifting of the TADA cases, appointments of Urdu teachers and implementation of the Supreme Court orders on female foeticide. However, it felt that police and the administration were a ``silent witness to the acts of vandalism'' when the Sawai Bhoj Masjid was demolished.

The memorandum said the authorities feigned ignorance even when a mob of 300 burnt the tents of the `dargah', 1 km from the mosque, two days before the incident. The mosque demolition was a long process as after clearing the debris they could build a marble platform and place an idol there.

``Police didn't do anything to stop the mob from demolishing the mosque. No teargas, no lathicharge and no arrests. The administration not only failed completely, but rather helped the mob indirectly,'' they said. Yet the leaders conceded that it was a ``good sign'' that the State Government came into action.

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