Tughlaqi-era mosque now a settlement as govt turns a blind eye
Just 500m from the Vijay Mandal Enclave in Kalu Sarai, in the narrow bylanes of the area, lies a historical jewel that time has forgotten. It is difficult to believe that once, the Masjid Kalu Sarai was a sight to behold. Today, the government apathy has left the structure in a state of extreme disrepair.
The bigger problem, however, is the people who have settled in the mosque premises. Families from different regions, including Rajasthan and Punjab, have been living here for decades. They have done irreversible damage to the structure by breaking down walls and expanding into the it. Further, they do not allow anyone to enter the premises to conduct a survey. Sources said the residents have kept dogs as pets specifically for the purpose of terrorising the visitors.
In fact, when a DNA team visited the complex, a woman told them to leave while signalling her dog, who immediately started barking.
Two years ago, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, as part of its programme to reopen the closed mosques in Delhi, had visited the Kalu Sarai mosque. Their team was attacked by dogs as well. They were then told that a former MP had made the mosque’s courtyard his home and had brought …read more
