Amid demolition threat, priest supports Delhi Race Course mosque

"Masjid aur mandir tho kabhi nahi todna chahiye," Temple priest Keshav Shastri told reporters.

Hyderabad: With the sword of Damocles hanging over Delhi’s Race Course mosque, Imam Mohammed Haroon has found a supporter and friend in temple priest Keshav Raj Shastri, who believes the move is wrong.

“Masjid aur mandir tho kabhi nahi todna chahiye. Maulana sahab mere purane dost hai. Hum jaathe-aathe hai, baath hothi hai (Mosques and temples should never be demolished. Maulana sahib is an old friend of mine. We visit each other, and we talk),” Shastri told reporters.

The century-old mosque is located near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, inside the Race Course Club, which covers about 53 acre of land. The club and the slums around it are being cleared after several rounds of litigation.

It is a Grade II heritage structure, notified in 2009. The mosque is registered under the Delhi Waqf Board and can accommodate 800 worshippers.

Centre told the Delhi High Court “national security” as the reason for taking possession of the area.

Shastri, who has been a temple priest for 15 years, told the media there has never been any untoward incident. “I do not know what the situation is,” he said.

He said the electricity connection has been cut for the temple. The Delhi Race Course mosque has had no power and water for over a week. “We have not served any notice. We are able to do pooja. We are four people with two children,” he said.

He added that he was assured by officials that there would be no demolition of the temple.

“Lekin hum masjid ke samarthan mein hoon (I stand to support the mosque),” he said.

On Friday, October 23, a teary-eyed Imam Mohammed Haroon prayed to the Almighty during Jummah prayers. “Oh Allah, please help us. You are our only hope. Our faith is being tested,” pleaded the elderly imam, as worshippers lend a shoulder in silence, in unity.

Men and women praying in silence for the preservation of their mosque and the restoration of their dignity.