Two days after a mosque in Sheetla Mata Colony here was sealed by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram leading to the allegations of the administration acting under pressure from the right-wing groups, Divisional Commissioner on Friday ordered de-sealing of the building.
Divisional Commissioner of Gurugram, D. Suresh said the de-sealing of the mosque was ordered after a representation was received from the members of the Muslim community and Gurgaon Nagrik Ekta Manch, a civil society group.
"As per the law, there is a provision for the de-sealing of a property by the appellate authority. After I received a representation from the Muslim community and the civil society group, I decided to order de-sealing," said Mr. Suresh.
He, however, denied that the MCG action was discriminatory and ruled out the need for any disciplinary action against the team that carried out the sealing. "The de-sealing has been done as per the provision in the law. No need for any action against the officials," he said.
Manch's member Rahul Roy, an independent filmmaker, said the decision to de-seal the mosque showed that administration was "responsive" to the people's genuine demands and sensed that there was no legal ground for the sealing. He said that it sent a good message down the line and prevented certain friction. "It also emphasised how it was important for the civil society to be on the guard," said Mr. Roy.
Local Muslim leader Shahzad Khan welcomed the de-sealing of the mosque saying that justice was done to his community at last.
Earlier, the protesters sitting on a "dharna" outside the mosque were forcefully evicted by the police around noon and their tent was uprooted. The district administration appointed 35 District Magistrates to maintain law and order during the offering of Friday Namaz.
Gurugram police spokesperson Subhash Boken said that the offering of the Namaz went off peacefully in the city.
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