PPF objects demolition of Ukhrul's lone mosque
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 08 2015:
The Pangal Political Forum (PPF) has strongly opposed the government plan to lay the foundation stone of the Ukhrul district and session court by demolishing the lone mosque in the district.
Talking to mediapersons at Manipur Press Club on Sunday, spokesperson of PPF, MI Khan, stated that a committee was constituted on September 11, 1995 to lay the groundwork for construction of a mosque in Ukhrul district.
Subsequently, after getting consent from the government and allotment of a plot on September 28, 1995 the masjid was constructed.
The order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul on February 5, 2015 in connection with the construction of the district and session court at the site directed the clearing of all structures in the surrounding areas including government quarters and the mosque, he stated.
Although the progressive step for building the district and session court is welcomed, the state and Central governments have an odd habit of demolishing religious buildings like churches, mosques and temples, he complained.
The abrupt direction from the district administration on February 5 asking for relocation of the mosque within two days without any prior notice has broken the hearts of the masjid committee and spiritual leaders of the mosque, he stated.
The PPF earnestly appeals to the administration to reconsider its decision and seek another suitable place for the carrying out the building of the court, he stated.
Moreover, if the land occupied by the mosque is needed for the court building what was the harm in allotting an alternate space for relocation of the mosque ahead of asking them to vacate, he questioned.
Since this is not the first instance of knocking down religious structures, suspicion has been raised naturally whether the Congress government has a predetermined motive of persecuting religious institution, he stated.
Giving a condition that the government should either provide an alternate space for shifting the mosque or withhold the order for its demolition, he asked the government to issue an official intimation withing three days.
Otherwise, a joint meeting of civil society organisations and clubs will be convened to deliberate the development, he stated.
The PPF has announced that it will be filing a PIL with the Manipur High Court if the government does not take up concrete measures to resolve the matter.