In July, the Supreme Court had upheld a local authority's order debarring non-residents of the city from offering Friday prayers at a mosque in the Taj Mahal complex.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has asked Muslims to stop offering namaz at the mosque inside the Taj Mahal premises in Agra on all days, except Fridays. While the order has stirred a controversy, ASI officials have asserted that they were simply implementing the Supreme Court order that was delivered in July.
As the Taj Mahal remains closed for the public on Friday, locals are permitted to offer weekly prayers without buying an entry ticket. In July, the Supreme Court had upheld a local authority's order banning non-residents of the city from offering Friday prayers at the mosque in the Taj Mahal complex.
The apex court had dismissed a petition challenging the January 24, 2018 order passed by the ADM (City) Agra which said that those who are not residents of Agra, would not be allowed to enter the mosque situated at the Taj Mahal for offering customary prayers on Fridays on grounds of security. However, the apex court verdict had not touched upon namaz on other days.
The ASI on Sunday locked up the ‘wudu tank’, the place where the devotees wash themselves up before offering prayers, a media report said.
A Times of India report said that Imam Syed Sadiq Ali whose family has been leading the prayers at the Taj Mahal mosque for decades expressed surprise at the ASI order. According to the report, the imam and mosque staff have also been ordered to show up only on Fridays.
Syed Ibrahim Hussain Zaidi, president of Taj Mahal Masjid Management Committee, said that there was no reason to stop namaz in the Taj Mahal premises. He said the practice had been going on for many years.
Zaidi accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of harbouring “anti-Muslim” mindset.
Zaidi was the petitioner who had moved the Supreme Court against the Agra authority's order. He had claimed that the order of ADM (Additional District Magistrate) (City), Agra restraining people from offering their prayers at the mosque inside the Taj Mahal was illegal and arbitrary.
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