There is an uproar over the installation of the statue of Rani Laxmibai near the Shahi Idgah located in Sadar Bazaar in the capital Delhi. The Muslim community is angry with the installation of the statue here.
There is an uproar over the installation of the statue of Rani Lakshmibai near the Shahi Idgah located in Sadar Bazaar in the capital Delhi. The Muslim community is angry with the installation of the statue here. Work to install the statue started once again on Saturday under heavy security arrangements. The work was stopped on Friday after the crowd became furious on Thursday evening. After all, why is the statue being installed here, why does the Muslim community have objection, let us tell you the whole thing.
The crowd came to protest
On Thursday evening, a large number of people broke the police barricade near Idgah. Also pushed and shoved the security personnel. During this time, the police asked people to remain calm and go to their homes, but no one agreed. With great difficulty the crowd dispersed. At present, efforts are being made to keep the atmosphere normal through the meeting of the local peace committee. A large number of police forces have been deployed near Idgah. Additional DCP Sudhanshu Verma is monitoring the situation.
Police registered two FIRs
Sadar Bazar police on Thursday registered two FIRs in connection with the installation of the statue of Rani Lakshmibai in Idgah Park. In this, one report is about attacking a government employee and the other is about spreading enmity between two communities. Senior police officer said that a video was going viral on social media. In this there was talk of violent demonstration at Eidgah. There was a danger of spoiling the atmosphere. The police took immediate action and identified the concerned social media site. FIR was registered after removing the video from all platforms.
Where did the controversy start?
Actually, at some distance from the park, there is a statue of Rani Laxmibai at the intersection near Jhandewala Temple. Due to road widening and development works here, it was decided to install the statue at some other place. MCD and DDA decided to install the statue in the park near Shahi Idgah. Since this park is adjacent to Eidgah and on special occasions like Eid, when thousands of people from the Muslim community reach here, they also offer namaz in this park. For this reason they are opposing the installation of the statue here. His argument is that prostration in front of any idol is prohibited in Islam.
The court also reprimanded the Muslim side
The Shahi Idgah Management Committee also challenged the decision of installing the idol here in the High Court, but they had to be reprimanded twice and also had to apologize. When the single judge bench rejected the petition, it was challenged before the double bench. The High Court said that Rani Lakshmibai is a ‘national hero’ and history should not be divided into communal politics. A bench led by Chief Justice Manmohan said, ‘It is being given a religious colour. It is a matter of pride that the statue is being installed here. On one hand we are talking about women empowerment…she is a national hero and you are doing communal politics. The court also expressed displeasure over the words used for the single judge. The court apologized and asked to withdraw the petition. The court said, ‘The intention seems to be communal politics. Rani Laxmibai has nothing to do with religion. If this was your land too, you should have come forward yourself.
Court said- ownership rights of DDA
The committee had also cited a Gazette notification of 1970 which stated that the Shahi Idgah Park was a property built during the Mughal period. Namaz is offered here. Here 50 thousand people can offer namaz simultaneously. The High Court made it clear that the ownership of the land on which the statue is being installed is with DDA. He is also responsible for its maintenance.