Don’t Divide History On Communal Politics: Hc | Delhi News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi is a “national hero” and history should not be divided on “communal politics“, Delhi High Court said on Wednesday while pulling up the Shahi Idgah managing committee for making “scandalous pleadings” in its opposition to the installation of her statue inside Shahi Idgah Park at Old Delhi’s Sadar Bazar.
The court said the committee’s intent was to do communal politics through court.”A religious colour is being given to this. It is a matter of pride that you are having this statue there. On one hand, we are talking about women empowerment. She is a national hero, cutting across all religious lines, and you are doing this on religious lines. Let’s not divide history on communal politics,” a bench of Chief Justice designate Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela told the lawyer for the committee.
The bench was dealing with an appeal by the committee challenging a single judge’s order refusing to restrain agencies from installing the statue of Maharani of Jhansi inside the park on the ground that the plea was without any cause of action. The bench took exception to certain paragraphs against the single judge in the appeal, which it said was “divisive” and demanded an apology.
“Someone has clearly lost it. The person who is doing it has got totally swayed. Just because someone has got emotionally swayed — the petitioner is indulging in communal politics and also dragging the court into it. Courts don’t get involved in communal politics. Give a written apology. What you are doing is not done,” the court made it clear.
“Look at the wordings which have been used for the single judge. Withdraw these pleadings, please, and give us an apology letter. This is scandalous. Absolutely scandalous,” it added. “Do communal politics outside the court. Don’t use us in the process. She is a national hero. This is not fair what you people are doing…Rani Lakshmibai has nothing to do with religion. In case the land belonged to you, you should have volunteered yourself,” it said.
“The senior counsel for the appellant (managing committee) admits that the aforesaid paragraphs are scandalous and shall be deleted forthwith. Let an application to the said effect be filed by tomorrow,” it said, listing the matter for Friday.
The single judge has rejected the plea seeking directions to the civic authorities to not encroach upon Shahi Idgah, claiming it to be a waqf property.