With Ramzan just eight days away, a section of Muslims in the Mehrauli area, under the banner of Mehrauli Muslim Samaaj Sudhaar Society, is preparing to offer prayers in area monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari, told Newsline: “We are sending a memorandum to the PM, we will appeal to him that prayers be allowed in these places. It is our right,” he said.

The decision comes amid the continuing standoff between the ASI and the resident Muslim population of Mehrauli over offering Friday prayers at protected monuments. On Friday, the police denied entry to a group of people into the Jamali Kamali mosque for the fourth consecutive week. The mosque is among the five heritage structures in the area that have been at the centre of the controversy.

The chairman of the Mehrauli Muslim Samaaj Sudhar Society, Choudhary Showkat, speaking to Newsline, said: “They are places of worship and prayers should be allowed there. ASI can still preserve and protect these places; we will just offer prayers and leave.”

The Delhi Wakf Board has appointed an Imam for these mosques. Chairperson of the Delhi Wakf Board Chaudhary Mateen said Muslims should be allowed to say prayers inside these heritage structures.

Meanwhile, after ASI lodged a police complaint on March 25 against the “encroachment”, other religious groups too had lodged a complaint at the Mehrauli police station. Sources said a meeting among locals of various communities was held at the police station a week ago. “We have consistently tried to maintain peace,” SHO Rajinder Bhatia said.