NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing row over the Qutub Minar, International Joint General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Surendra Jain, demanded re-establishment of the monument as a Hindu temple.
This comes a day after the All India Shia Personal Law Board on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding the Centre to ensure implementation of the Places of Worship Act 1991, Section 3 of which bars the conversion of places of worship.
Speaking to ANI, Jain said, “The whole area of Mehrauli is depicting that there were Hindu temples. The walls around the iron pillar at Qutub Minar have idols of Hindu Goddess. Also, the ASI board at Qutub Islam says that it was made after demolishing 27 temples.”
The VHP leader alleged that the people from the Muslim community offered namaz at the complex for years “without permission”. “When they were asked for permission, they refused to show it because they didn’t have it. They always refused to show papers because they know they were wrong. Along with the permission to offer prayers, we demand reestablishment of a Hindu mandir, Hindu mahal or Hindu Bhawan at the Qutub Minar site,” he said.
Commenting on the Gyanvapi mosque row and Shahi Idgah masjid at Mathura, which is sub-judice, Jain said that the “wrongs of the past will be exposed soon”. “The matter is in court, but we all know the truth. The truth will come out soon. Their wrongs will be exposed soon,” he said. (ANI)