Pleas seek curbs, right to offer puja at Mathura Idgah mosque

AGRA: Two pleas were filed in separate courts of Mathura on Tuesday, seeking restrictions of various kinds on Muslims at the Shahi Idgah mosque, situated near the Shri Krishna temple complex in the city.
The first Shahi Idgah plea was filed by one Mahendra Pratap Singh, a resident of Mathura, who demanded a ban on the “entry of people” inside the mosque. “The area must be sealed as evidence related to Hindu religion existing inside the Idgah premises could be destroyed,” he said. The case will be heard next on July 1 by the court of a civil judge (senior division).
Singh claimed that “some Hindu symbols such as a lotus, swastika and sheshnaag, had been removed by the defendants, who were also in the process of removing others”. He added: “In such circumstances, the character of the property will be altered. The defendants may remove the remaining Hindu symbols from the walls of the Idgah complex, which is the ‘garbha griha’ of the Krishna janmasthan.”
Meanwhile, another application was filed by 11 people in the court of additional sessions judge (8) Sanjay Chaudhary on Tuesday, stating that the suit was being filed “on behalf of the deity” along with “devotees” to ensure that “darshan, pooja and rituals” are carried out inside according to Vedic Sanatan Dharma.
The court fixed the next date of hearing for this plea on May 25.