678 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
111
- Demolition of a Mosque on Asoka Road, New Delhi
Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state :
(a) Whether he is aware of the existence of a Mosque in Asoka Road in Government Quarter No. 9 ;
(b) Whether the said Mosque has partly been demolished by Public Works Department men at the instance of a Public Works Department Official;
(c) Whether the demolition work was stopped due to the agitation by Muslims;
(d) What steps the Government have taken to prevent such demolition and whether they have taken steps against the person at fault; if so, with what result; and
(e) What steps Government are going to take to remedy the harm done to the building ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes—of an old, dilapidated and unused mosque.
(b) No. One of the arches on the northern wing of the mosque accidentally collapsed while felling a tree against which it was leaning. The request for the removal of the tree came from the present occupant of the house-Major Anwar who complained that the tree was obstructing the light.
(c) No.
(d) There was no demolition by the Central Public Works Department, and so this question does not arise.
(e) It is an old dilapidated building, and no harm to it has, therefore, been caused.
Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : When the tree was cut, why the precaution was not taken to see that the arch which was leaning against the tree might be kept in a safe condition ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no reason to suppose that due precaution was not taken against such an accident.
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1943,25th August 1943, p. 980.