Farmers Movement Archive

Mathura admin no to Hindu group for ‘aarti’ at Shahi Idgah

Agra: The Mathura administration has denied permission to the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha for “aarti” of Lord Krishna at the Shahi Idgah mosque on Saturday. Following the refusal, the right wing group announced it would launch a "referendum" for construction of the Krishna Janambhoomi temple from January 26, Republic Day, at Kurukshetra, the land where Krishna gave 'Gita gyan’ to Arjun. This is the second time in less than two weeks that the administration has stopped the Mahasabha from going ahead with their programme at the Shahi Idgah. The outfit had earlier announced it would install Krishna’s idol at the Shahi Idgah on December 6. In a letter issued to the national president of the organisation, Rajyashree Chaudhuri, the district administration said permission has not been granted "in the interest of law and order and peaceful atmosphere of the city". Section 144, prohibiting public gatherings, is in force in the city since November 24 and will continue till January 21. Chaudhuri said, “Earlier, they (the administration) refused permission citing communal harmony in the city. This time, they have said it would violate Covid norms. These are lame excuses. We will launch a referendum from January 26 and obtain 10 crore signatures for construction of the temple in Mathura and submit it to the President for intervention.” The controversy over a Krishna temple in Mathura was sparked off last year after a Lucknow lawyer and five others filed an appeal in a district court claiming that the mosque is exactly where Krishna was born. As of now, a local court is hearing a bunch of petitions seeking "removal" of the 17th century mosque. In the past few days, senior BJP leaders have spoken out about construction of a grand Krishna temple in Mathura. While UP deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya tweeted that foundations of mandir in Ayodhya and Kashi have begun and preparations are on in Mathura, state cabinet minister Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan Singh said, a Krishna temple will be built in Mathura alone and "not in Lahore or Rawalpindi". Then, BJP MP from Ballia Ravindra Kushwaha said, "When the government can repeal farm laws, it can also withdraw the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 to pave way for a temple at Krishna Janambhoomi in Mathura."

The Times of India

2021-12-11

Agra