Will you now demolish Red Fort, Taj Mahal, Gol Gumbaz: Kharge to Hindutva outfits

The Congress president also appeared to blame an oral observation by the then Chief Justice of India for the rise in demands from Hindutva outfits for surveying mosques looking for temple remains.

New Delhi: Wondering if RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s diktat not to look for a 'Shivling' in every mosque was double-speak, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday asked whether Hindutva outfits would now target Red Fort, Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Charminar and Gol Gumbaz, as they were built by Muslims.

Kharge made the comments at the ‘Save Constitution Rally’ here where he also appeared to blame an oral observation by the then Chief Justice of India for the rise in demands from Hindutva outfits for surveying mosques looking for temple remains.

The court ordered a survey of mosque premises in Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh and Ajmer in Rajasthan in recent weeks, which led to controversies and law and order scenario. His statements also came days after the Congress reiterated its “firmest commitment” to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which he said was “being violated brazenly” by the BJP.

“Will you now demolish Red Fort, which was built by Muslims? Will you demolish Qutub Minar? Will you demolish the Taj Mahal? Will you go to Hyderabad and demolish Charminar? Will you go to Bijapur to demolish Gol Gumbaz?” he asked.

He said Mohan Bhagwat in June 2022 had remarked that their aim was to build Ram Temple, and now, "there is no need to look for a masjid beneath every ‘Shivling’."

“But their people are still looking for this. The law says to maintain the status quo. Why are they creating trouble? They say remain united to stay safe. They are not allowing people to be safe. Bhagwat says one thing to show to the world, but others are taking a different path,” he said.

Asking whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were listening to the RSS with whose support the BJP got power, he said the right-wing activists have come up with a new thing using a judgement written by a Supreme Court judge, which has opened a “pandora’s box".

“They want surveys everywhere. Teams are going to mosques saying they were temples earlier and surveying it. It is not one or two but several demands are being raised,” he said.

Kharge was referring to the then Chief Justice of DY Chandrachud’s oral remarks in May 2022 in which he said the 1991 law does not prevent one from ascertaining the religious character of a structure. The 1991 law assured the status quo of religious structures as on August 15, 1947.

He also alleged that the BJP was “stealing people’s votes, their MLAs and even elected governments”, as he urged Dalits, tribals, OBCs and minorities to stand united. He said if they remain divided, they would not achieve anything.

“If the Constitution is saved, we all are saved. We need to stand united,” he said reiterating Congress’ commitment to Caste Census.