Eviction Notice Issued for Historic Mosque Near PM Modi's Residence in Delhi

The Land and Development Office (L&DO) has issued an eviction notice ordering the historic Race Course Mosque, located right near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence in New Delhi, to be vacated within six days. Authorities declared the land unapproved and government-owned, sparking sharp reactions among the local community.

According to a report by The Wire, the mosque was previously listed under the New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) list of heritage properties. However, officials are now disputing its heritage status. Ahead of the eviction deadline, basic municipal services including power and water connections were severed on October 7, and access roads to the structure have reportedly been restricted.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has moved quickly to protect the mosque and the adjoining historic graveyard. Representative Mohammad Hakimuddin Qasmi met Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, seeking immediate federal intervention. Qasmi highlighted that the site is registered as a protected heritage structure in the 1977 Delhi Gazette and government records, to which the minister assured potential assistance.

The mosque's imam, Mohammad Haroon, criticized the Delhi Waqf Board for inaction, stating they failed to seek judicial relief despite repeated warnings over the past six months. The move is part of broader clearance measures on Race Course Road near the Prime Minister's residence, where the Delhi High Court simultaneously cleared local slum dwellers and relocated them 45 kilometers away to Saboli Ghevra.