MARGAO
With the authorities displaying no haste in reopening the Sunni Gulistan Mosque following the murder, a delegation of Muslims on Friday called on BJP State President Damu Naik with a plea for the early opening of the place of worship.
The group of Muslims from the Gogol Housing Board area, including Goa State Haj Chairman Urfan Mulla called on the BJP State President to take up the issue with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other authorities and reopen the Mosque for prayers.
Source said that Damu gave the delegation a patient hearing and assured to take up the matter with the government and authorities.
Members of the delegation later told the media that they are confident that the BJP President will work out a solution and ensure that the Mosque is reopened for prayers at the earliest.
The delegation’s meeting with the BJP president assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that it’s now around 14-15 days since the Sunni Gulistan Masjid was shut for worship after the murder.
Since then, the authorities had politely refused to reopen the Masjid citing law and order concerns. A meeting called by the South Goa Collector, Egna Cleetus and attended by Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, besides SP, South, Santosh Desai earlier this week had ended without taking any decision to reopen the place of worship.
