Sood urges public to avoid politicising incident

Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood on Thursday urged the public to refrain from politicising the stone-pelting incident reported near the Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid at Turkman Gate and appealed for calm, asking people to avoid spreading rumours and allow the police to conduct their investigation, while referring to the recent anti-encroachment drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in the area.

“These are sensitive matters. I would request the public to let the police conduct their investigation. I would like to reiterate that the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque is intact...It stands there with full respect. The Delhi government has no role in this; this action was taken to remove land mafia on the orders of the court. Do not politicise this, and avoid spreading rumours.”

The Minister had earlier said that the stone-pelting incident that occurred during the removal of encroachments near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque at Turkman Gate in Delhi is extremely unfortunate. Some commercial establishments had illegally come up around the mosque, against which action was being taken in compliance with the directions of the court. Obstructing or disrupting work being carried out within the framework of the law is completely unacceptable.

In protest against this action, certain criminal and mischievous elements resorted to demonstrations and violence, which cannot be tolerated. The individuals involved in the incident have been identified, and legal action is being taken against them in accordance with the law. So far, five people have been arrested in this case, he had stated.

“I want to clearly state that the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque is completely safe. The action is limited only to those illegal commercial establishments that fall within the scope of the court’s orders. There is no arbitrariness or mala fide intent on the part of the government in this matter. I appeal to all citizens not to fall prey to any kind of provocation. Strict action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands under provocation. I also urge all peace-loving people to cooperate with the administration in identifying such mischievous elements and to help maintain mutual harmony and peace,” the Minister had added further.