br>
Government should make its stand clear: Muslim Personal Law Board
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the main organization of Muslims in the country, has demanded the government to clarify its stand on the alleged targeting of places of worship of Muslims in the country. The Board has decided to provide legal aid to the Masjid Arrangement Committee and its lawyers in the matter of Gyanvapi Masjid. The Board has also decided to launch a country-wide agitation, if necessary, to inform the public about the “real intention” of creating a dispute over the places of worship.
Many important decisions taken in the emergency meeting
Board’s executive member Qasim Rasool Ilyas said on Wednesday that an emergency virtual meeting of the Board’s Executive Committee (Working Committee) was held late on Tuesday in which many important decisions were taken. Referring to the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi and the Shahi Masjid Idgah cases in Mathura, he said that the meeting expressed regret that the places of worship of Muslims in the country were being targeted.
‘Places of Worship Act being openly flouted’
He said that it was also regretted in the meeting that the Places of Worship Act, which was enacted with the consent of all in the Parliament in the year 1991, is being openly flouted. Ilyas said, ‘It was regretted in the meeting that the central government and the state governments are silent. Apart from this, the political parties that call themselves secular parties are also keeping silent. The board has requested all of them to clarify their stand on this.
‘It is a matter of regret the way the lower courts are taking decisions’
Ilyas said that the board also said that the way the lower courts are taking decisions regarding the places of worship, it is a matter of regret. The courts should not dishearten the people, because the last hope of justice may not end there. He said that it has been decided in the meeting that the legal committee of the Board will assist the maintenance body of the mosque ‘Anjuman Utjatiya Masajid Committee’ and its lawyers in connection with the Gyanvapi Masjid in the Supreme Court.
‘Keep Calm, Stand With Courage’
Ilyas told that the board has appealed to the Muslims to maintain peace, stand with courage and fight the legal battle to the best of their ability. He said that the board has also decided that the real intention behind all the controversies being raised regarding mosques should be brought before the public so that people are not misled. Ilyas said that if needed, we can also launch a movement in this regard across the country. He said that the truth is that whatever is happening is being done to damage the unity and integrity of the country. Ilyas said that the board also decided that after contacting different religious communities, religious leaders, civil unions and social organizations in the country, the truth would be told to them. He said that this is not the issue of any one community but of the whole country.