Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Working President and former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin on Monday demanded strict action against officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), commenting on the ongoing row over the demolition of the Masjid-Ek-Khana in Hyderabad's Amberpet area.
"Recently, I came to know that GHMC has demolished a 200-year-old masjid at Amberpet, locally known as Masjid-e-Ek-Khana. As per the reports, for the widening of the road, they have demolished an old monument," Azhar was quoted as saying.
“Will GHMC also take up demolition of Charminar just because it stands on the road? I am not against road-widening and development, but the government should have taken alternative measures for road development and preserved the age-old mosque,” Azhar added.
He also said that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao must respond to the incident and take strict action against those found guilty.
Meanwhile, the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) submitted a petition to the Telangana State Minorities Commission against the structure's demolition. MBT spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan demanded that the officials of the GHMC involved in the demolition should be suspended immediately and arrested.
"The Commission should visit the site and pass necessary orders to Hyderabad police not to stop Muslims from offering Namaz at the site and withdraw all cases booked against Muslim youths," Amjed said.
Security was beefed up in Hyderabad's Amberpet area on Sunday afternoon after the Darsgah Jihad O Shahdat (DJS) gave a call to Muslims to offer prayers at the disputed structure which was demolished along with the Ashoor Khana Hazrat Abbas for road widening.
A day ahead of the call for the protest on Saturday, city police Commissioner Anjani Kumar had warned those who were attempting to disrupt peace.
"Some people with a vested interest have been spreading rumours and fake news in social media about gathering people at Amberpet. No unlawful gathering shall be allowed at Amberpet, particularly in and around the area where there was a law and order situation on last Sunday. Anyone trying to disturb the peace and tranquility at Amberpet shall be dealt with severely in accordance with law. All members of the public are requested to cooperate with police in maintenance of public order and peace," Anjani Kumar said in a statement.
The entire incident can be traced back to May 2 when the GHMC demolished the structure, known as Masjid-e-Ek-Khana, as part of ongoing road widening work. The municipal body claimed that they had ‘bought’ the land from an individual and had even paid out compensation for the property. This had triggered protests even as the Wakf Board said that it has total rights over the plot and accused the municipal body of negligence.