KNB News Desk
Srinagar 26 December (KNB): City Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu Saturday said he has written to Lieutenant Governor, J&K, Manoj Sinha to restore Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar.
In reply to reporters’ questions on the sidelines of the Christmas congregation held at St. Luke’s Church, Mattu said that he had written a letter to LG Manoj Sinha to lift the bar from Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid.
“I have also said that keeping a mosque preemptively closed is not good. At the same time, it is a responsibility of the mosque’s leadership that prayers should be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere without politicising it,” said Mattu in reply to a question.
Regarding the St. Luke’s Church, he said that Smart City Corporation Limited had restored the church with a role played by Tourism Department in it.
Mattu also hailed the work of Srinagar Smart City under the leadership of Commissioner SMC Athar Aamir Khan and the team in restoring the St. Luke’s Church.
“I guess after the period of more than 30 years, this congregation has taken place here on the occasion of Christmas which makes up, as we had a syncretic culture in the past also, that we are one people,” said Mattu.
He also appreciated the steps being taken by all stakeholders along the lines of one by which St. Luke’s Church was restored. (KNB)