New Delhi, May 20: A prominent muslim organisation today protested the reported move of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to declare Jama Masjid as a protected monument and cautioned the tourism ministry that the muslim community would "seriously object" to any such move. In a letter addressed to union tourism minister Jagmohan, president of All India Muslim Majlis-E-Mushawarat, Syed Shahabuddin cautioned that such a move would meet with serious opposition by the muslim community all over the country.
He asked the Delhi WAKF board to "wake up to its statutory responsibility" and intervene into the matter.
Accusing the ASI of "failing in its statutory duty to protect and maintain the hundreds of mosques which are already under its protection", Shahabuddin asserted that there was a growing demand within the Muslims to "ask the ASI to denotify the protected masjids and hand over their conservation, repair and maintenance to the muslim community".
"The real reason for the mismanagement of the Jama Masjid lies in the total abdication of its statutory responsibility by the Delhi WAKF board," the letter said adding the board had to be made "conscious of its responsibility towards the Jama Masjid." Bureau Report