Search the Internet          Tips

Muslim law board demands reconstruction of razed mosques in Gujarat

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has resolved to urge the central government to ensure reconstruction of mosques, maqbaras, madrassas and other Islamic institutions that were pulled down during the recent spate of communal violence in Gujarat.

The resolution was passed at a meeting of the Board executive, presided over by its president Maulana Rabe Hasan Nadwi in Lucknow on Sunday.

Nadwi is also the rector of India's leading Islamic centre of learning known as Nadwa-tul-Ulema, which draws students and research scholars from different corners of the globe.

Announcing the decision on Monday, Board secretary Maulana Abdul Rahim Quraishi said, "A delegation of the Board will soon call on President [Abdul Kalam] as well as Prime Minister [Atal Bihari Vajpayee] with this demand." He said, "We will carry the list of each of the damaged or destroyed Islamic institutions, some of which had even been converted into temples."

Quraishi said, "While a few of the 600-odd Islamic institutions damaged in the Gujarat violence have been restored or repaired, most are still lying unattended."

"We have therefore decided to request the President and prime minister to exercise their good offices and get these re-built or repaired," he said.

The meeting also took serious note of the 'official propaganda' against madrassas that were labelled as 'training ground of Islamic terrorism'.

Quraishi said, "Investigations in most cases where the official machinery had sought to brand a particular madrassa as an ISI centre had concluded in proving nothing against them."

"If there is anything substantial against any particular institution, we would be the last one to come in the way, but certainly if people are harassed without the least of evidence, it is painful and it would not be tolerated," he added.

The Board was also furious over the Karnataka government's decision to set up a Madrassa Board to regulate the registration and working of madrassas in that state. "The Board regards this as an interference in the internal religious matters of a religion and the government's approach was therefore objectionable," he said.

What surprised all and sundry was the Board's attitude towards Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Maywati's decision not to issue fresh notification in the Babri Masjid demolition case that could have nailed Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani. "Since the matter is pending before the Supreme Court, we would wait for the court's decision," he said.

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report