Imambaras remain locked despite HC orders to open

LUCKNOW: The historic Chhota and Bara Imambaras remained lock on Wednesday despite high court on Tuesday directing district administration to get them unlocked forthwith. The administration said it was trying for a peaceful solution by negotiating with Shia protestors who have put locks on the gate for the past 20 days and are adamant to carry on with their agitation till their demand to oust Shia Central Waqf Board chairperson Waseem Rizvi are met.
As part of ‘peaceful negotiations’, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had called Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad for a meeting to his official residence, but talks remained inconclusive. Jawad, who met CM along with a three-member delegation, later told reporters that Yadav assured him of taking “suitable action” after “studying” his demands—of CBI probe into corruption in Waqf Board, action against Waseem Rizvi who has already been found prima facie guilty by the CBCID and implementation of Sharia rules in Imambaras.
Jawad said as far as contempt of court was concerned, action should first be taken against the district magistrate for not complying with several court orders, including appointment of Justice (retired) Haider Abbas as receiver of the Hussainabad Trust.
On a PIL, the high court had on Tuesday directed district administration to get the two Nawabi-era monuments unlocked and opened for tourists. It also directed the DM to maintain law and order situation around Imambaras and ensure no harm is caused to the monuments.
District magistrate Raj Shekhar, when contacted, said the administration is committed to implement court's order. “We are first trying peaceful methods to resolve the crisis,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, one Jamir Naqvi moved application in the high court, pleading to make him a party in the case and claimed that Imambaras were gifted to the Shia community by Nawab of Awadh, Muhammad Ali Shah, through a deed in 1838.