In May, the body had torn down several houses in the Amir Khusro Park of Nizamuddin; it refuted the residents' charges of demolishing the mosque
Chandni Begum, 40, had not imagined that one day she will be sitting on the road in defiance of 50-odd policemen, until the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) bulldozers reached near her dilapidated house in Amir Khusro Park of south Delhi's Nizamuddin area on Wednesday. Begum's protest halted the traffic for almost half-an-hour.
The residents of the area were protesting against demolition of parts of a mosque by the DDA. This is the second time in the last two months that the DDA has launched a demolition drive in the area. "Earlier in May, they demolished my house. Today, they destroyed a part of our mosque even though we have a stay order from the Delhi High Court till July 24," Begum said.
Saleem, another resident of the area, said: "We kept requesting them to spare the mosque, but they first destroyed the tin shed next to the mosque and then three of its walls. How can they touch the masjid? It's unacceptable."
The DDA, however, denied all allegations of demolishing parts of the mosque. "We have only removed the unauthorised structures. Everything constructed in the Amir Khusro park is illegal, except for the three religious structures that are really old," a senior DDA official said.
"We will clear this area completely and construct a public park here," he added.
Earlier in May, the DDA had cleared some structures that the residents had constructed in the park compound, along with a night shelter meant for women and children. The demolition drive started in the area again on Tuesday. "We are the fifth generation of our family living here. How can they destroy our lives like this?" rued Begum's 22-year-old daughter Zeba Sahiba.
Sahiba's family had to shift her engagement venue in May, when her house was destroyed."They disconnected our electricity and water connections, " she asked.
DDA Drives
According to residents, the mosque in question was constructed in 2003.
This is the second time in the last two months that the DDA has launched a demolition drive in the area.
DDA deny allegations of demolishing the mosque, claiming they have only removed the unauthorised structures and that everything constructed in the park is illegal, except three religious structures
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Mosque in Amir Khusro Park")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}