ASI refuses charge of Akbarabadi mosque
24 July 2012 2:26 AM GMT
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has virtually denied to take possession of the land at Subhash Park on which a mosque was illegally being constructed by locals. In a letter written to the commissioner of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on Monday, ASI had expressed its inability to take possession of the land due to security reasons.
‘The ASI has cited security issues as a major hurdle in taking possession of the site, stating that it did not have adequate security arrangement to handle the situation,’ said P K Gupta, Commissioner of NDMC. A meeting of all the stake holders - NDMC, ASI and Delhi Police was chaired by Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Tejendra Khanna on Monday in which ASI submitted its stand in writing. ASI, however, has started archaeological examination of the excavated remains obtained from the site. According to sources with ASI, an expert team from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur has been called in to help the agency in finding the ‘archaeological remains’ buried under the land on the site believed to be the place of Mughal-era Akbarabadi mosque. The team is reportedly equipped with machines which are able to peep several feet inside the earth without any excavation. ASI, NDMC and Delhi Police will have to file a status report in Delhi High court on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the matter was also raised in the meeting of house of NDMC but no decision could be taken due to uproar and blame game from both the sides. Chairman of Standing Committee Yogender Chandolia raised the issue in the house amid uproar by the opposition on selling of Panchjanaya, the mouthpiece publication of RSS on 13 July. ‘The commissioner must seek permission of Delhi High Court to demolish the illegal construction made at the Subhash Park by some Muslims for their vested political interests,’ said Chandolia. This received severe criticism from Aley Mohammed Iqbal, son of Shoaib Iqbal and councillor from Turkman Gate.
‘The ASI has cited security issues as a major hurdle in taking possession of the site, stating that it did not have adequate security arrangement to handle the situation,’ said P K Gupta, Commissioner of NDMC. A meeting of all the stake holders - NDMC, ASI and Delhi Police was chaired by Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Tejendra Khanna on Monday in which ASI submitted its stand in writing. ASI, however, has started archaeological examination of the excavated remains obtained from the site. According to sources with ASI, an expert team from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur has been called in to help the agency in finding the ‘archaeological remains’ buried under the land on the site believed to be the place of Mughal-era Akbarabadi mosque. The team is reportedly equipped with machines which are able to peep several feet inside the earth without any excavation. ASI, NDMC and Delhi Police will have to file a status report in Delhi High court on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the matter was also raised in the meeting of house of NDMC but no decision could be taken due to uproar and blame game from both the sides. Chairman of Standing Committee Yogender Chandolia raised the issue in the house amid uproar by the opposition on selling of Panchjanaya, the mouthpiece publication of RSS on 13 July. ‘The commissioner must seek permission of Delhi High Court to demolish the illegal construction made at the Subhash Park by some Muslims for their vested political interests,’ said Chandolia. This received severe criticism from Aley Mohammed Iqbal, son of Shoaib Iqbal and councillor from Turkman Gate.
Next Story
