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Sangh Parivar activists detained
near Delhi mosque

The activists led by Delhi Sant Mahamandal president Swami Pragyanand were rounded up when they gathered around the complex, located near the historic Qutab Minar in south Delhi.

"The situation is under control. We will not allow anyone to perform yajna there," Deputy Commissioner of Police P Kamraj told PTI.

Samiti spokesman Ajay Devgun claimed that Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Delhi unit president Om Prakash Singhal and Indraprastha Sanatan Dharam Parishad chief Mahant Surendra Nath Avdhoot were among those detained.

"We are not claiming possession of the mosque, which was built after razing to ground 27 Hindu and Jain temples. This is a secular country and we are only demanding our right to perform puja in the manner that Muslims are being allowed to offer namaz at the mosque," Swami Pragyanand said.

Elaborate security arrangements were made at the complex to prevent any untoward incident.

"We will continue our struggle till we are allowed to perform puja," Mahant Avdhoot said.

The Sangh Parivar outfits' move follows refusal by the Archaeological Survey of India to allow puja before the idol. ASI has denied that Muslims were being allowed to offer prayers.

Several VHP activists were arrested in November last year when they tried to perform puja near the mosque, built in 1100 AD.

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