The controversy over the sealing of a mosque in Sheetla Mata Colony here two days ago remained unresolved on Friday with the Divisional Commissioner going back and forth on the matter in a day marked by hectic parleys and police action against Muslims holding a protest against the sealing.
Though Gurugram Divisional Commissioner D. Suresh, following a meeting with Muslims leaders, including Nuh MLA Zakir Hussain, and members of civil society group Gurgaon Nagrik Ekta Manch (GNEM) told reporters around noon that he had ordered the de-sealing of the structure, a brief message issued to the media late in the evening claimed that he was yet to receive any representation on the matter.
The message, however, added that an appeal could be filed in the court of Divisional Commissioner against the directions of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner.
Sources in the administration told The Hindu that the de-sealing order could amount to contempt of court as the matter of unauthorised construction within 300 metres of the ammunition depot was sub judice and it could have probably prompted a rethink on the matter.
Fresh representation
Independent filmmaker and GNEM member Rahul Roy said a delegation would again call upon the Divisional Commissioner on Saturday and make a fresh representation on the matter.
‘Written appeal’
Muslim Ekta Manch chairman Hazi Shahazad Khan, along with a handful of members of the Muslim community, had made a written appeal to Mr. Suresh around noon on the matter, seeking de-sealing of the mosque and action against the sealing team and the anti-social elements for creating ruckus outside the religious building for almost a week till September 12.
Mr. Hussain alleged that the controversy over offering of namaz in public spaces and the mosque was created to polarise the electorate ahead of the elections next year. He demanded that the administration take strict action against the troublemakers. In their meeting with the Divisional Commissioner, GNEM members said that the sealing of the mosque was discriminatory and defied the principle of equality before the law.
Earlier, the protesters sitting on a dharna outside the mosque were forcibly evicted by the police around noon and the tent was uprooted. The district administration appointed 35 district magistrates to maintain law and order during the offering of Friday namaz.
Preventive arrest
Six members of Hindu outfits were also taken into preventive detention in the morning after they threatened to self-immolate in protest against offering of Namaz in open spaces. They were later let-off.
Gurugram Police spokesperson Subhash Boken said the offering of the namaz went off peacefully.
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