At a time when the donations for the construction of the historic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya have crossed Rs. 2,000 crore, Ayodhya title suit litigant Iqbal Ansari, while expressing his unhappiness, claimed that for the construction of mosque a meagre amount of Rs 20 lakhs has been collected in a span of 16 months.
Questioning the competence of the Waqf board appointed trust, Ansari raised serious questions on the competence of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) – the trust tasked with the construction of a mosque and other facilities on a 5-acre plot in Dhannipur, Ayodhya. For the uninitiated, the plot was allotted by the Supreme Court during the Ram Mandir verdict to serve as an alternate site for the mosque. The plot was allotted to Sunni Waqf board which in turn, formed a trust to aid the construction of the mosque.
While the preparations for construction of the mosque have begin post the verdict, Ansari alleges that the trust has managed to collect only Rs 20 lakhs as he feels that IICF is unable to win the people’s trust because of its private nature.
Iqbal Ansari alleged that the IICF’s Chief Trustee, Zufar Ahmad Farooqui, has formed a private trust directly controlled by himself. While demanding sweeping changes in the membership of the trust, Ansari claimed that Farooqui is incompetent and the members of the IICF are anti-social as he blamed their lack of social ability for the dismal collection of donations.
Reportedly, the trust also plans to construct additional facilities like Hospital, community kitchen and a Indo-Islamic cultural research center. However, the current amount of donations means that the trust will unable to fulfil its lofty dreams.
Ansari, who is the son of the oldest litigant in the decades-long land dispute case, received the first invitation to the Bhoomi Poojan of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. After receiving the invitation, Ansari said, “I believe it was Lord Ram’s wish that I receive the first invitation. I accept it. Hindus and Muslims live in harmony in Ayodhya.”
Post the Ram Mandir verdict, Iqbal Ansari chose to contradict the stance taken by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board as it chose to file a petition to review the verdict of the Supreme Court.
Ansari back then had said, “There is no use of going for the review as the outcome will remain the same…the move will also vitiate the harmonious atmosphere. My views are different from that of the Board and want an end to the mandir-masjid issue at this very point.”