SP MP Ziaur Rahman Barq Criticizes Sambhal Mosque Survey

By A Staff Reporter

Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh: Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament Ziaur Rahman Barq voiced strong criticism of the recent survey conducted at a mosque in Sambhal district, following a petition that claimed the mosque was originally built over an ancient Hindu temple. The survey, ordered by a local court, has sparked controversy and raised concerns over the interpretation and application of religious laws.

Speaking about the incident, Barq argued that the constitutional framework and existing laws were being misused. "The Constitution and laws are being misused. We are against this. There is this Places of Worship Act in the Constitution which aims to maintain the religious character of such places as it existed on August 15, 1947," Barq said. He further emphasized that the mosque, which has been a place of prayer for the local Muslim community for many years, should not be subjected to such legal challenges.

"The masjid is old, and people go and pray there," Barq added, stressing that the mosque has been part of the community's religious life for generations. He strongly objected to the registration of new cases over the matter, asserting that such actions were harmful and unjust.

The survey, ordered by the court, follows claims that the mosque was originally an ancient Hindu temple site. This has sparked a wider debate about the preservation of religious sites in India and the implications of the Places of Worship Act, which was enacted to maintain the status quo of religious sites as they were on August 15, 1947, to avoid communal tensions.