Dhannipur is happy about 5 acres for Mosque, not those in Ayodhya

Dhannipur | Ayodhya: People in Dhannipur were excited after the UP government on Wednesday announced that the mosque to be constructed in lieu of Babri Masjid would be located in their village. Dhannipur falls in Sohawal tehsil of Ayodhya district and five acres of government land have been identified for constructing of the mosque, 200 m away from the Raunahi police station and off the Lucknow-Ayodhya highway.

The land is used for wheat farming at the moment but houses the tomb of Shahgada Shah Rahmat Ullah Alaih on whose death anniversary in April a three-day mela is held, when the place comes alive. People flock to watch horse races and listen to qawwalis, among other things. A government source said the site was chosen based on the Muslim population, accessibility and considering maintenance of law and order and communal harmony. The other two sites shortlisted for the Centre’s perusal were on the Ayodhya-Prayagraj highway.

Muslims of Ayodhya, however, said a mosque 25 km away from the city did not make sense. “What is the point of giving land so far away,” asked Haji Mehboob, a key litigant in the Ayodhya title dispute. “We have said that we don’t want land... and if land was allocated it should be close to Ayodhya. I don’t accept it.”


Mehboob said he will discuss the issue with the Babri Masjid Action Committee. Views of many other locals at the erstwhile disputed area resonated with Mehboob’s. Iqbal Ansari, another litigant, said he had not been contacted but he stuck to his earlier proposal of using the land right across his house. The land parcel already houses a mosque that can be developed.

“There is plenty of land and mosques in Ayodhya. People go to a mosque close to their dwelling. Otherwise, one can say namaz at home too. If the land was within the 67 acres, it would have been acceptable,” said a local. Bablu Khan, a member of the district panchayat in Ayodhya, however, was happy: “I want to thank our PM and CM for winning everybody’s trust. The site is appropriate because the area has close to 95% Muslim population. However, I would like a trust similar to the one formed for the Ram mandir for the construction of the mosque too. Since it’s a big parcel of land, a hospital and a school will be good.”

“There are more than 20 mosques inside the village and three more on the highway. There should be enough namazis too,” said Asif, a 21-year old, in Dhannipur.