In March last year, a week after the Modi government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, the gates of a building ...
In March last year, a week after the Modi government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, the gates of a building comprising a mosque, a school and a hostel, hidden behind a cramped neighbourhood, were locked by the Delhi Police. The building, situated in Nizamuddin in New Delhi, was the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic evangelical organisation with a presence in several countries.
The Jamaat had held a congregation in Delhi at the end of February last year which was attended by hundreds of foreigners from countries in South East Asia and Europe. Several cases of Covid-19 among foreign nationals and Indians were traced to this event. The Islamic organisation as well as its headquarters were demonised by the mainstream media for “single handedly derailing India’s efforts to fight the Covid-19”.
The Delhi Police filed a case of criminal conspiracy against the Markaz authorities and locked the building on March 31.
It has been over a year and the Markaz continues to remain sealed.
The reason is that the Centre is still to file an affidavit in response to a petition filed by the Delhi Waqf Board in the High Court in February asking for permission to reopen the building.
There have been seven hearings since...
