A pro-Hindu outfit on Monday demanded the closure of a madrasa at Tipu Jamia Masjid in Karnataka’s Mandya, alleging that the site belongs to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and does not belong to any particular religion. He also gave an ultimatum to the ASI that its members will sing ‘Hanuman chalisa’ in the mosque every Saturday if the madrasa is not closed in 10 days.
Members of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike met the officials at the ASI office in Srirangapatna; Videos of the interaction are doing the rounds on social media. Alleging that the mosque was built over a Hanuman temple, the members warned that the organization will stage protests before the ASI department if it does not allow them to offer prayers in the structure on Saturdays.
A letter from the outfit was obtained by Hindustan Times.
The letter states that the mosque was under the care and protection of the ASI since 1935 and was declared not to belong to any religion.
In response, members of the Vedike alleged that the structure was being used to run a madrasa – an Islamic school – without permission and permission, and it was also used for the Urs, the death anniversary of a Sufi saint.
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Vedike accused the ASI of inaction and said members of the Muslim community had altered the original look of the structure by decorating it with flags for these occasions, which “threatened” its original form.
“The disputed mosque was originally an Anjaneya temple, the proof of which is in written, document and physical form,” the letter added. “If the department does not take legal action against the illegal execution of the madrasa at Jamia Masjid in Srirangapatna within 10 days, it should allow us to sing Hanuman Chalisa every Saturday as per tradition. If the department does not allow us to do so, we will stage a protest in front of the office,” it read.
In a similar incident last week, members of another right-wing group, the Hindu Jagruti Sene, protested against the color of the Kalaburagi railway station – green. Complaining that it resembled a mosque, Sena members succeeded in getting the railway officials to paint the station white.