On Tuesday, several members of the two right-wing groups were arrested near the Qutub Minar. They had gathered to recite the Hanuman Chalisa, claiming that the Qutub Minar was once a Vishnu temple. They demanded that the monument be renamed Vishnu Stambh and that Hindus be allowed to pray there. Since they could not enter the complex, they remained near Bhool Bhulaiya amid heavy police presence.
Jai Bhagwan Goyal, a BJP leader as well as the president of the United Hindu Front and the Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena, claimed that police had placed him under house arrest in Shahdara since Tuesday. While speaking with reporters he said, “We had informed the area police commissioner about our programme to chant Hanuman Chalisa, but the ACP and SHO arrived at my house around 7 am with around 50 policemen and put me under house arrest.”
He further said, “Qutub-Uddin-Aibak made the Qutub Minar in 1100 AD by altering our Vishnu Stambh and breaking our Sai, Hindu, Jain temples. He wrote Qutub Minar on the pillar. Even today, idols of our gods and goddesses are still a part of the complex which is clear proof of the fact our Hindu temples were broken to make Qutub Minar.”
Various historians have stated that Qutub-Uddin-Aibak started the construction of Qutub Minar in 1200 AD as a tower of victory. However, the tower was completed by his son-in-law Iltumish. Later in the 14th century, Ferozshah Tughlaq made a few additions to the structure and the British also made a few additions to it in the 19th century.
According to an ASI official, no one entered the complex and the police were notified as a precautionary measure.
The DCP (South), Benita Mary Jaiker, stated that no permission was granted by the police to gather outside the monument complex. She said that 50 people participated in the demonstration. She further added they belonged to the United Hindu Front and the Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena.
Ms Jaiker, while speaking with reporters, said, “Of the 50 demonstrators, 44 were detained under section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. All of them were released before 6 pm.”
References: Hindustan Times
Featured image source: Mapping Megan
