Four held for offering namaz on Taj Mahal premises, ASI cites SC order

“Namaz has been offered at the mosque of the Taj Mahal regularly. But some days ago the ASI cited a Supreme Court order barring offering of the namaz on the mosque premises except Friday,” said Ibrahim Zaidi, the head of the Intezamia Committee at Taj Mahal.

Zaidi said the committee has asked the ASI to give the prohibition in writing with proof and also display a board announcing the prohibition to the tourists.

Vinod Dixit, a tourist guide from Lucknow, who accompanied the tourists, said those arrested had no idea they were committing a crime. “They had no idea that they cannot offer namaz. They did it by mistake. There was no notice board saying that it is prohibited,” he said.