The Peethadhishwar of Bageshwar Dham, Dhirendra Shastri, strongly condemned AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s recent remarks on “Masjids,” asserting that it reflects Owaisi’s “fear” that should persist.
In response to Owaisi’s comments urging vigilance among Muslim youth regarding the activities of the BJP-led Centre and emphasizing the need for mosques to remain inhabited, Shastri stated, “This just shows his fear. We don’t want to build temples on Masjids but want to reconstruct temples. If he has this fear, then I pray this fear should remain inside him,” as reported by ANI on Friday.
Owaisi had made these statements on January 1, as the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya approaches. He expressed concern over the loss of the Babri Masjid and urged young Muslims to remain alert and united.
“The place where we sat and recited the Quran for 500 years is not in our hands today. Young people, don’t you see that a conspiracy is taking place regarding three-four more mosques, in which the Sunheri Masjid (Golden Mosque) of Delhi is also included? After years of hard work, we have achieved our position today. You have to pay attention to these things,” Owaisi remarked at a program in Bhavani Nagar.
Owaisi called on young Muslims to stay vigilant and maintain the support and strength of their mosques. He emphasized unity as a strength and blessing, urging the youth to think about how they can contribute to their families, cities, and neighborhoods.
As the consecration ceremony for Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir approaches, scheduled to take place over seven days starting January 16, with the final day on January 22, the comments from both sides reflect the sensitivity surrounding religious sentiments. The foundation stone for the Ram Temple was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, 2020, following the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict on the Ayodhya dispute.
