On the day of 72nd Republic Day, construction of Ayodhya Mosque started with hoisting of tricolour and planting of saplings. This comes after Supreme Court in 2019 gave a verdict on the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land.
As per the judgement, 5-acre of separate land was allotted to the party arguing for Babri Masjid, while claims of the land near the mosque were given to the side contesting for Ram Janambhoomi.
Accepting the verdict, organisations involved are going ahead with the construction of the mosque but All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaaduddin Owaisi has a different take on it.
READ: India-China Relationship Truly At Crossroads, Ladakh Standoff Profoundly Disturbed Ties
Addressing a public meeting in Bidar, Karnataka the Hyderbad MP claimed that contributing to the construction of the mosque on the allotted land in Ayodhya is not permissible or it is rather "Haraam".
"Performing prayers and contributing for the construction of that masjid is haram (not permissible),” Owaisi said in his address. Mentioning that he has consulted the Islamic scholars the AIMIM leader said: "It must not be called a masjid and prayers cannot be performed there."
ALSO READ: Ahead Of Session Canteen Prices Revised; No More Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani At ₹ 65
Further elaborating on his point, Owaisi requested Muslims not to contribute money for the Ayodhya mosque and advised to help with the money to those not getting married. “Muslims should not perform prayers in that masjid. Instead of contributing to the construction of that Masjid, Muslim should contribute to the marriages of poor girls,” Owaisi said.
Meanwhile, Athar Hussain, secretary of the Ayodhya Mosque Trust, has termed Owaisi's claims as political. Speaking to Indian daily Times Of India, Athar Hussain informed that no piece of land on this earth can be "haraam" where prayers are to be offered.