The Hindu : Jamaat council plea for handover of Marad mosque

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 27, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Jamaat council plea for handover of Marad mosque

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI MAY.26. The Kerala Muslim Jamaat Council has demanded that the Marad mosque, which was taken over by the Kozhikode District Collector following the recovery of arms, be handed over to the council for the faithful to conduct prayers.

Talking to mediapersons here today, the council State general secretary, A. Pookunju, said that the council was willing to appoint Imam and Mukri in the Marad mosque for restarting the prayers. At the same time, the State Government should provide adequate security to the faithful to exercise their religious rights in the mosque, he said.

The leaders accused the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, of dancing to the tunes of the Sangh Parivar and doing injustice to Muslims.

The Chief Minister's stand that it was the District Collector who was to decide on the possession of the mosque was an attempt to help the Sangh Parivar, they said.

The council members criticised the "silence of the Chief Minister on the VHP leader, Pravin Togadia's statement that Mr. Antony be made the AICC president''.

They also protested against the arrest of Imam and secretary of the Marad mosque.

They criticised the Government act of "facilitating the visit of LDF, VHP and BJP leaders, including Union Ministers to Marad and making arrangements for holding discussions with Araya Samaj leaders whereas the local MP, E. Ahmed, Indian Union Muslim League leaders and Muslim leaders were not allowed to visit the area."

Replying to a question, they alleged that the Kozhikode District Collector, T.O. Sooraj, was also not discharging his duties justly.

The council leaders stated that they suspected foul play in the recovery of arms from the mosque. The weapons were placed inside the mosque by some elements to defame the community, they said.

The recovery of weapons after forcing the residents to flee the area was suspicious. The police were conniving with the Sangh Parivar in enacting the drama for recovering arms from the mosque, they said.

They charged the Sangh Parivar with attempting to sideline the Muslim community members in the area. The council leaders criticised the State Government for failing to initiate steps to bring back the Muslim community members who had fled the area following the violent incidents.

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