NEW DELHI: After accusing the BJP government of “blatantly violating” the Law on places of worshipStarting in January 1991, Congress will join the case before the Supreme Court demanding that the 1991 law be strictly respected.
On December 12, the Supreme Court ordered the suspension of studies ordered by several courts alleging that there were temples under Muslim religious structures. These have been challenged by various bodies and individuals, following which the high court ordered the suspension. Congressman and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi is appearing in these cases.
Sources said Congress will soon submit a request, which is largely symbolic because the case is already in progress. It is yet to be decided whether the case will be filed on behalf of the party or whether a senior official like AICC general secretary KC Venugopal will sign the petition.
However, it will highlight the party’s political stance in view of the “chaos” caused by recent events. At the CWC meeting on November 29, party officials criticized the “violation” of the Places of Worship Act and accused the BJP of orchestrating court petitions to keep polarization simmering. The CWC also passed a resolution attacking the BJP and the Modi government over the issue.
Sources said that after the SC’s suspension order, key Congress functionaries held a meeting with top brass, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, where various aspects of the issue were discussed. The decision to charge the case was also made at the meeting.
During the recent session of Parliament, there was also talk that the opposition bloc INDIA would file the case together, but now the parties appear to be moving forward individually. Also, the Samajwadi Party made the police firing in UP’s Sambhal, where inspection of a mosque was ordered, a key protest issue in Parliament.
