Rameswaram: Days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to dedicate the newly built Pamban Rail Bridge, a controversy has erupted in Rameswaram following the sudden appearance of an LED display atop a mosque minaret displaying “Allahu Akbar” in Arabic and English. The incident has drawn criticism from various quarters, with allegations of a deliberate attempt to stir communal tension ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit on April 6, the day on which Ram Navami will be celebrated.
Prime Minister Modi is slated to inaugurate India’s first vertical lift sea bridge on the occasion of Ram Navami, around noon.. He is also expected to flag off a train and a ship from the road bridge and witness the operation of the new railway link connecting the mainland with Rameswaram island.
The controversy began when an LED display illuminated the minaret of a mosque near the Pamban bridge, prominently showcasing the religious phrase. Mugavai Thamizhan Risudeen, Vice President of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, alleged to the Organiser that the display was installed at the behest of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) by one Ryas Khan from Kerala. Risudeen shared an older photograph from 2012, purportedly showing the mosque without any such LED installation, emphasizing its previous aesthetic appeal without the lettering.
“The mosque looked beautiful from a distance. There were no letters in the electrical decorations. But now, all of a sudden, a display in big letters saying ‘Allahu Akbar’ in Arabic and in English was installed at the minaret of the mosque. It spoils the beauty of the mosque. People who cross the Pamban bridge, it will be an eyesore and a distraction,” Risudeen stated.
Concerns over the potential for traffic hazards were quickly raised by motorists and vehicle owners. The bright LED display reportedly caused drivers to become distracted, with some stopping their vehicles to view the message, thus affecting the smooth flow of traffic. Prompted by these complaints, the revenue department reportedly instructed the mosque administration to remove the “illegal” LED display.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, personnel from the Navy and Air Force also lodged complaints with the police and revenue authorities. They expressed concerns that the illuminated display could be misinterpreted as a navigational signal, particularly during nighttime, potentially misleading ships and flights.
Documents accessed by the Organiser indicate that the Mandapam police station had already issued an order for the removal of the LED display on March 16. However, instead of removing it, the mosque management allegedly followed a tactic similar to instances reported in northern states, covering the LED board with a large tarpaulin sheet.
This act of covering the display, rather than removing it, has further fueled suspicion. Social media posts have alleged that the banned PFI was behind the installation with the intention of instigating communal clashes in the region prior to the Prime Minister’s visit.
Interestingly, the decision to cover the display has also drawn criticism from within the Muslim community. Ahamed Navavi, the state General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), condemned the covering of the LED display specifically due to the Prime Minister’s impending”
Risudeen, on the other hand, urged the police and revenue department to take stringent preventive measures to avoid any untoward incidents. He alleged that members of the banned PFI have infiltrated the Pamban Jamaat and are suspected of planning significant disruptions. He called for a thorough probe by central intelligence and the police into the affairs of the Jamaat and the role of suspected PFI members, including those reportedly from Kerala.
“Neither the State government nor the Mosque covered the Minaret with a tarpaulin before the PM’s visit. It was done by the infiltrators and the members of the banned outfit PFI and their political wing (SDPI). They were the ones who did it. Muslims should beware of their activities by keeping alert,” Risudeen asserted.
Intelligence sources reportedly identified Periyapattinam Riyas Khan, the SDPI president of Ramanathapuram district, and his brother Askar Ali as being active in the area and as members of the banned PFI. These sources further pointed out that the LED board was installed hastily around 20 days prior, after news of the Prime Minister’s visit became public, and without obtaining necessary approvals from any authority.
According to these sources, the local DMK government, the local MLA, and the Ramanathapuram MP K Navas Kani are allegedly supporting the Jamaat, which they claim has been infiltrated by members of the banned outfit. They believe that the temporary covering of the LED decoration is a tactic and that the tarpaulin will be removed slowly after the Prime Minister’s visit. They contend that this situation poses a threat to national security and could potentially trigger communal clashes, besides being a significant distraction for vehicle drivers, pilots, and ship captains, impacting sea, road, and air traffic.
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