Manmohan Singh's pledge to Jama Masjid Imam under HC Lens

NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s personal “assurance” to the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid in October 2004 that the mosque would not be declared a protected monument has come under Delhi High Court’s scanner. A protected monument cannot be used for meetings, receptions, parties, conferences or entertainment programmes except with special permission from the Centre.

Seeking to inquire into what led to Singh writing a letter to the Shahi Imam and UPA-1’s decision that the mosque will not be declared a protected monument, the High Court has summoned the entire record of the communication.

This is for the first time that the Delhi High Court has summoned the entire record from the Ministry of Culture, regarding the decision. The ministry has been directed to produce the original file in the court pertaining to the decision. The order passed by the Delhi High Court also specifically mentions the letter Sigh wrote to Shahi Imam on October 20, 2004.

The court’s directions were passed during the resumed hearing of a petition filed by one Suhail Ahmed Khan who has demanded that the masjid be declared a protected monument.

Referring to Singh’s letter, advocate Devinder Pal Singh, counsel for the petitioner, contended that Singh’s letter is clear evidence of the fact that the Congress had returned the favour to Imam who had announced support in favour of the Congress for the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

The counsel for Shahi Imam objected to this contention arguing that an attempt was being made to give it a political colour.

The court, however, has summoned the entire record to ascertain the considerations which led to the said decision. ET was the first to report in April 2015 that the Archaeological Survey of India had produced Manmohan Singh’s letter to Imam. The assurance was made in a letter from Singh to Syed Ahmed Bukhari in 2004, soon after he had taken over as prime minister, the ASI affidavit said.