Owaisi urges Rijiju to save Delhi's Race Course Mosque from demolition
Synopsis
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has escalated the fight over Delhi's Race Course Mosque — a gazetted waqf property since 1977 — directly to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, after the Delhi Waqf Board (defunct since 2023) failed to act. With the caretaker given six days to vacate and utilities cut by the LNDO, the clock is ticking on a property that legally remains protected even under the contested Waqf Amendment Act.
Key Takeaways
AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on 20 October urged Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to intervene in the Race Course Mosque demolition threat.
The mosque is a gazetted waqf property since 1977 and qualifies for protection as 'waqf by user' under the Waqf Amendment Act.
The Delhi Waqf Board has not been constituted since 2023 , leaving no board-level oversight for the property.
Caretaker Mohammed Haroon , associated with the mosque for nearly 40 years , was asked to vacate within six days ; electricity and water connections have been disconnected by the LNDO .
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind submitted a memorandum to Rijiju seeking protection for the mosque and the adjoining graveyard behind the Safdarjung Tomb .
Owaisi also condemned threats to Hujra Kuan , a historic mosque located near the Race Course.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday, 20 October called on Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to urgently intervene in the case of Delhi's Race Course Mosque, which faces an imminent threat of demolition despite being a gazetted waqf property.
The Hyderabad Member of Parliament raised the alarm through a social media post, warning that the mosque — formally recorded in the 1977 Gazette as a waqf property — is being threatened without any formal demolition notice having been issued.
Key Developments
Owaisi pointed out a critical lapse: the waqf board neither challenged the demolition order nor made any effort to resolve the situation. He argued that even the Waqf Amendment Act provides protection to the mosque as it qualifies as a 'waqf by user', and all such properties registered in the past continue to retain legal protection.
'Even the Waqf Amendment Act protects the masjid since it's 'waqf by user.' And all such properties registered in the past continue to be protected. But still no effort was made,' Owaisi said.
Notably, the Delhi Waqf Board has remained non-functional since 2023, with no board having been constituted. Owaisi argued that the Chief Executive Officer of the Board could have intervened independently, but that too did not happen, leaving the Minister as the only remaining authority to act.
Situation on the Ground
Mohammed Haroon, who has been associated with the mosque for nearly 40 years, shared a video on social media stating that authorities had asked him to vacate the premises within six days. He further said that the mosque's electricity and water connections had been disconnected and all gates sealed by the Land and Development Office (LNDO).
Local worshippers are reportedly being prevented from offering namaz at the mosque, and its caretaker has been threatened with demolition, even in the absence of a formal notice — a procedural irregularity that Owaisi flagged directly.
Historic Mosque Also Under Threat
In an earlier post, Owaisi strongly condemned what he described as an attempt to demolish Hujra Kuan, a historic mosque located near the Race Course. The threat extends beyond the mosque itself — the adjoining graveyard behind the Safdarjung Tomb is also reportedly at risk.
A delegation of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind met Minister Rijiju and submitted a memorandum demanding urgent action to protect both the mosque and the graveyard.
Owaisi's Broader Concerns
'Why are places of worship belonging to Muslims being targeted? Our apprehensions regarding the misuse of the Waqf Amendment Act and the Places of Worship Act appear to be coming true. The government must withdraw these unlawful threats and clarify that no such action will be taken against the mosque,' Owaisi said.
The episode has intensified scrutiny over the administration of minority religious properties in the capital at a time when the Waqf Amendment Act remains a flashpoint in national politics. All eyes are now on Minister Rijiju's response to both the AIMIM's appeal and the Jamiat delegation's memorandum.
Point of View
There is no institutional watchdog for waqf properties in the capital — and that vacuum is now being felt in real time. Owaisi's intervention, while politically charged, raises a legitimate procedural question: if even the CEO of a headless board did not act, and no formal demolition notice was issued, what legal basis exists for disconnecting utilities and ordering a vacate? The broader invocation of the Waqf Amendment Act and the Places of Worship Act as shields rather than threats is a rhetorical pivot worth noting — it signals that minority community leaders are now leaning into the very legislation they opposed, testing whether its stated protections hold under pressure from administrative action.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Race Course Mosque controversy in Delhi?
The Race Course Mosque in Delhi is a gazetted waqf property recognised since 1977. It faces demolition threats despite holding legal protection, with its caretaker being asked to vacate within six days and its utilities disconnected by the Land and Development Office.
Why did Asaduddin Owaisi approach Kiren Rijiju?
Owaisi approached Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju because the Delhi Waqf Board has not been constituted since 2023, leaving no functional body to defend the property. He argued the Minister is the only remaining authority capable of intervening.
Does the Waqf Amendment Act protect the Race Course Mosque?
According to Owaisi, yes — the mosque qualifies as 'waqf by user' and all such properties registered in the past continue to be protected under the Waqf Amendment Act. However, no formal action to invoke that protection had been taken by the Board.
What is Hujra Kuan, and why is it also under threat?
Hujra Kuan is a historic mosque located near the Race Course in Delhi. Owaisi separately condemned alleged attempts to demolish it, indicating that the threat extends beyond the Race Course Mosque to other heritage Muslim religious sites in the area.
What has Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind done in response?
A delegation from Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind met Minister Kiren Rijiju and submitted a memorandum demanding urgent intervention to protect both the Race Course Mosque and the adjoining graveyard located behind the Safdarjung Tomb.
