Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday reviewed the situation in South Delhi’s Jangpura area where an illegal mosque was demolished by civic bodies, leading to tension.
At a meeting, attended by top officials, Ms. Dikshit said all possible measures should be taken to restore normalcy in the area.
The structure, built on DDA land, was demolished by DDA on early morning Wednesday acting on a Delhi High Court order and people were not allowed to enter the premises.
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However, the Chief Minister had yesterday conveyed to Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari the message of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy that prayers will be allowed at the site of the structure.
Later in the day, around 700 people had offered prayer at the site of the demolished mosque.
The meeting felt as the court had only ordered to demolished the structure people should be allowed to continue their prayer at the site.
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“The court has said the structure was illegal. It had not barred people to gather their and offer prayers,” said a top official attending the meeting.
He said the Union Urban Development Ministry has given permission to offer prayer at the site.
Meanwhile a residents association today moved the Delhi High Court seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Ms. Dikshit and Bukhari for allegedly instigating people to trespass and offer prayers at the site.