Why court ordered Sambhal mosque survey when plea prayed for right to access, asks Asaduddin Owaisi

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticises BJP over mosque survey, calls for peace amid religious disputes and political distractions.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said if the petition over a Mughal-era mosque at Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh had prayed for the right to access, then why a court there ordered a survey of the structure.

Targeting the ruling BJP, Mr. Owaisi said such issues weaken the country, which is facing inflation, unemployment, farmer suicides and other issues.

On November 19, 2024 a court of civil judge (senior division) of Sambhal passed an ex-parte order for a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid by an advocate commissioner, after taking note of a plea of the Hindu side claiming the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Babur in 1526 after demolishing a temple.

On November 24, violence gripped the area during the court-ordered survey of the mosque, killing four persons and injuring many others.

The Supreme Court on Friday (November, 29, 2024) ordered a Sambhal trial court to halt proceedings in the case over the Shahi Jama Masjid and its survey at Chandausi while directing the U.P. Government to maintain peace and harmony in the violence-hit town.

Talking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Sunday (December 1, 2024) over the Sambhal incident, Mr. Owaisi said, "If we read the petition, we find the prayer in it is right to access. If this is so, why did the court order the survey, which is wrong. If they need access, who stops them from going and sitting in the mosque?"

"If according to the Places of Worship Act, the character and nature (of a religious place) can't be changed, then why still the survey was ordered?" the Hyderabad MP asked.