Popular Front Chairman O M A Salam has condemned the demolition of Garib Nawaz mosque by Barabanki district administration of Uttar Pradesh.

In a statement issued today O M A Salam remarked that a century-old Muslim place of worship has been bulldozed by a district administration in Uttar Pradesh on highly dubious grounds and terrorising believers.

Garib Nawaz mosque in Ram Sanehi Ghat tehsil is a registered Masjid under Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board and has all the records that it has been used by believers for more than a century. However local authorities simply claimed it an illegal structure and bulldozed it despite the fact that there is a high court order to protect it from any eviction or demolition.

Popular Front condemns the destruction of the mosque and defiance of the high court order. This blatant violation of the district administration is akin to that of Hindutva goons who enjoy impunity under Yogi and have no respect for law or people’s rights. It’s to be remembered here that it was through such manipulations of lower courts and local administration that Hindutva forces initiated their campaign against Babri Masjid. Unless the Muslim community and civil society don’t come forward to resist such attempts, the country is going to witness more attacks of this fashion.

Popular Front demands immediate reconstruction of the Masjid and strict action against the officials responsible for the demolition. Popular Front will provide all support to the legal struggle for getting the mosque rebuilt and bringing the responsible officials to justice.