ASI begins whitewashing outer walls of Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal days after Allahabad HC order

The whitewashing of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal started on Sunday, an advocate of the mosque side said on the day.

Work is underway to whitewash the outside wall of the mosque, he said.

This comes days after the Allahabad High Court asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake the project. The court had on March 12 ordered the ASI to complete the whitewashing at the mosque within one week.

"The whitewashing of the outer wall of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal began on Sunday," Shakeel Warsi, an advocate representing the mosque side in the Sambhal district court was quoted as saying by PTI.

The ASI sent a team on March 13 following the court's order, which carried out measurements and assessments of the mosque.

More labourers needed

Shahi Jama Masjid's president Zafar Ali said, "The whitewashing work started at around 9 am. The whitewashing of the outer wall is going on. At present, 9-10 labourers are engaged in the whitewashing work".

He said that the mosque authorities have been consulted by the ASI team

“The whitewashing of the outer wall of the Shahi Jama Masjid began on Sunday morning. ASI team is supervising the work. We are also being consulted by them,” he said.

Ali however noted that more labourers are needed to complete the work on time.

“If the work has to be completed in four days, then around 20 labourers would be needed,” he said.

When asked what colours will be put on the outer wall of the mosque, Ali said, “We are using the colours which have been used for hundreds of years. We are using white, green and light golden colours.”

Painting process faced delays

The painting process had faced delays earlier. The ASI team arrived at the site with painters, but after a brief stay, they left without starting the work. Consequently, the restoration could not begin as planned.

The ASI later informed the Jama Masjid committee that the painting work would officially start on Sunday morning, ensuring compliance with the court’s instructions.

Sambhal has been tense after riots broke out on November 24 last year following a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a Mughal-era mosque here. Four people were killed and several, including police personnel, were injured in the clashes.

(With inputs from PTI)