Centre says Krishi Bhawan mosque ‘incompatible with secular character’, to be demolished

The Centre has told the Delhi High Court that it plans to demolish the century-old Qadeemi Masjid at Krishi Bhawan, arguing that retaining a religious structure in a government office complex is “incompatible” with its “secular character”, Bar and Bench reported on Tuesday.

Krishi Bhawan is the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

In an affidavit filed before the court, the government said that Krishi Bhawan and the Central Secretariat complex were meant exclusively for government, administrative and public service functions.

The mosque is located in an open courtyard on the premises of Krishi Bhawan, which, along with neighbouring Shastri Bhawan, is set to be demolished to make way for new buildings under the Central Vista redevelopment project, The Indian Express reported.

The Central Vista project, which started in 2019, is aimed at redeveloping a stretch of central Delhi. So far, the new Parliament building, the vice president’s residence, the central secretariat and the new Prime Minister’s Office have been completed.

Critics have described the plan as a “vanity project” of the Bharatiya Janata Party government.

In its affidavit before the court, the Union government said the mosque “is required to be removed”.

It also said that reserving any part of the site for a religious structure would be inconsistent with the project’s master plan, The Indian Express reported.

On Monday, the High Court asked...

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