Worshippers Defy Restrictions to Pray at Historic Delhi Mosque Near Modi's Residence

Worshippers entered Delhi's century-old Race Course Mosque, located near the official residence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and offered prayers despite administrative restrictions, disconnected water and electricity supplies, and a notice ordering the premises to be vacated.

The Land and Development Office (L&DO), claiming the land was under unauthorised occupation, had directed the mosque's imam to vacate the premises within six days. On October 7, the mosque's water and electricity connections were disconnected, and its main gate was closed to prevent worshippers from entering.

However, around 10 worshippers entered the premises on Tuesday and offered Zuhr, the afternoon prayer. Security personnel initially tried to stop them, citing instructions from senior officials, but the worshippers eventually managed to get inside.

A warning notice displayed at the site stated: “The land belongs to the Government of India. Any unauthorised occupation, construction or illegal activity on the premises may invite legal action.”

The notice named the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) as the implementing agency.

Afzal Khan, one of the worshippers who sought entry, expressed anger over what he described as restrictions on Muslims' freedom to practise their religion.

“There is absolute authoritarianism here. There is no environment anywhere in the country where we can worship freely. They do not want us to practise our religion,” he said.

Khan also alleged that the judiciary was operating under pressure and that the leadership of the Waqf Board had become subservient to the government.

Another worshipper expressed deep frustration over what he described as the growing helplessness and humiliation of Muslims in India.

Dr Abu Obaid of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), who also managed to enter the mosque and offer prayers, compared the restrictions to Israeli forces preventing access to places of worship in Palestine.

The mosque and its adjoining graveyard, located behind Safdarjung's Tomb, are explicitly mentioned in entry No. 18 of a Delhi administration gazette notification dated September 8, 1977.

The two-bigha premises are recognised as a Waqf property and are also included in the New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) heritage list.

In a video message, mosque imam Mohammad Haroon said he had repeatedly approached the Delhi Waqf Board over the past six months but had received no assistance.

“I made numerous appeals to the board's chief executive officer, but nobody listened. Since the road to the mosque has been blocked, we cannot even bring in water. We have run out of drinking water,” he said.

Haroon added that a government survey conducted in 2021 had established that the mosque was neither an illegal encroachment nor an unauthorised property.

He expressed frustration over the Waqf Board's failure to respond to his appeals for legal intervention.

Following widespread criticism, the Delhi Waqf Board sent a letter to the L&DO on Monday, protesting the sudden disconnection of the mosque's water and electricity supplies on October 7.

The letter stated that the mosque had maintained a legal electricity connection since 1976. The board demanded the immediate restoration of both electricity and water.

Expressing hope for a resolution, Haroon said: “I am just an ordinary imam. The Waqf Board is the legal authority. It is for them to decide what needs to be done.”

In the absence of electricity, the imam's family has been relying on a generator.

Shoaib Jamai, a leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), described the restrictions as “completely illegal and arbitrary”.

“The 1977 gazette notification itself proves that this is a legally recognised mosque that is more than 100 years old. Acting on verbal threats amounts to anarchy,” he said.

Jamai further alleged that the authorities were attempting to introduce what he called the “Yogi model” in Delhi through the police and municipal administration, referring to the governance approach associated with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

On Monday, a delegation from the All India Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind met Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and submitted a memorandum seeking protection of the mosque's legal status and immediate restoration of its water and electricity supplies.

Led by the organisation's general secretary, Maulana Muhammad Hakimuddin Qasmi, the delegation urged the minister to intervene. Rijiju reportedly assured the delegation that the matter would be examined.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the Delhi Waqf Board's handling of the issue, saying the absence of a permanent board since 2023 had contributed to administrative paralysis. He called for urgent intervention by the Union minister.

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of pursuing “bulldozer politics” and demanded the immediate restoration of the mosque's water and electricity connections.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a political and religious leader from Kashmir, described the developments as deeply concerning.

“If a legally recognised century-old mosque can be targeted in this manner, what security can ordinary places of worship expect?” he asked.

On August 25, 2026, the Delhi High Court reportedly directed residents of a slum settlement near Modi's official residence to vacate the area within six weeks and relocate elsewhere.

According to the account, the restrictions imposed on the historic mosque, including the disconnection of utilities, followed the eviction drive in the surrounding area.

The dispute has raised questions about the mosque's legal status, the authority behind the restrictions and the responsibilities of the relevant government agencies. The L&DO's position is that the land is under unauthorised occupation, while the Waqf Board and several political leaders have cited historical records to challenge the action.