Anjuman Intezamia calls peaceful protest amid Gyanvapi masjid controversy

The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee (AIMC), overseeing Varanasi's Gyanvapi Masjid, has urged Muslims to observe a peaceful protest on Friday by keeping their shops and businesses closed. This action comes in response to a local court's approval for Hindu prayers in the southern cellar of the mosque complex, a move contested by AIMC.

He said the Muslim community has objected to the “misleading claim” that Hindu prayers were held in the southern cellar until 1993. “This is a completely wrong and baseless fact,” AIMC secretary Abdul Batin Nomani said. “No puja was ever performed in the southern cellar of the mosque.” He added that the Muslim community has moved the high court against the local court’s verdict.

Nomani appealed to Muslims to maintain peace, and tranquillity and ignore rumours. He asked the people against going anywhere unnecessarily. Nomani made the appeal after chairing a meeting of prominent Muslim community members on Thursday. “...the district administration hastily made arrangements for worship in the southern basement of Gyanvapi Masjid...people...should offer prayer in their respective cities and areas.”