Muslims in Vellore convert house-cum-godown into mosque, locals protest

Locals along with Hindu Munnani are protesting against the construction of a new Mosque in Sarkar Mandi street in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. 

The protesters claim that the mosque was allegedly built without proper permission and by altering a house overnight. 

The land belongs to an Islamic juice shop owner named Abdul Rahim and was being used as a storage facility. It was recently renovated and a board that reads “Nawab Habibullah Khan Mosque” was put outside. The place was earlier used for private namaz by close family members and friends but is now being opened as a public mosque. 

Reportedly, there are three temples located just a few metres apart and a mosque in the area could create friction between people from different religions.

GS Iqbal, president of Dravida Muslim Munnetra Kalagam (DMMK) was quoted saying in a report that, “The mosque has been there since 1866, and we have revenue records and Wakf board documents supporting that. They (Hindu Munnani) are now opposing this and trying to create religious tension in the area. We have submitted evidence to the RDO and urged the district administration to take action against them,”.

According to journalist Rajesh Rao, documents obtained through RTI, reveal that one Abdul Rahim pays property tax for the building. Though it is a residential building, a juice shop is run in the front by him. He says that if the mosque is allowed to be built, there would be difficulties in celebrating Hindu festivals as they would start objecting. People will gather for namaz in large numbers and park their vehicles on roads haphazardly, resulting in traffic snarls, he said.

He added that Hindu traders directly and indirectly are threatened, pressurized to change their stand. “Efforts are on to divide them on communal, caste basis. They are spreading a lot of falsehood on social media and media. During the previous AIADMK rule, they were dormant, but after DMK won both in assembly and the recent local body elections, there has been full swing activities to build a mosque here. They know that DMK would support.”, he was quoted saying in a report.

Recalling a similar incident that happened earlier, he said “In Sathuvacharry, Islamic trust bought a piece of property and started building a mosque in 2008. Thanks to Hindu Munnani’s protest, which lasted till 2011, and legal battle, they were forced to abandon it.

He noted the instance where Vellaiyan and Dr Arvinda Reddy, who led the protests, were killed by Islamic fundamentalists. H. Ahmed, a state level functionary of the Manitha Neya Makkal Katchi state level functionary puts out clarion calls on social media asking Muslims to gather in large numbers and in spreading false messages about Mahesh and other Hindu leaders.

He said that Muslims in DMK are unanimous in the issue but the Hindus in DMK are forcing Hindu traders to adjust.

When the commotion was reported on February 24, Vellore SP reportedly tried to pacify members of both the communities saying that the Revenue Department is looking into the issue. The Vellore RDO has said asked both sides to present their views.

(With inputs from Organiser)

Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.