New Delhi: Solemnity descended during Jummah prayers at the Race Course mosque in New Delhi, which faces demolition, as a teary-eyed Imam Mohammed Haroon prayed to the Almighty for help on Friday, October 23.

“Oh Allah, please help us. You are our only hope. Our faith is being tested,” pleads the elderly imam, as worshippers lend a shoulder in silence, in unity.

The video shows men and women praying in silence for the preservation of their mosque and the restoration of their dignity.

India’s Muslims fear the demolition of a century-old mosque near PM Narendra Modi’s residence after the imam claimed he received an eviction notice.

There has been a wider demolition drive in the area, and the mosque’s water and electricity have been cut off. pic.twitter.com/40mIqqLJKG

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 24, 2026

Centre cites ‘national security’ for demolition decision

The century-old mosque is a Grade II heritage structure, notified in 2009. It is located near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, inside the Race Course Club, which covers about 53 acre of land. The club and the slums around it are being cleared after several rounds of litigation.

The Centre has cited “national security” as its reason for taking possession of the area.

Overnight, a barricade emerged with security personnel guarding it. Outsiders, especially the media, are not allowed to go inside. A notice board was erected by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) declaring the land as the Central government’s property, and any action against it would be considered as “encroachment.”

Imam Mohammed Haroon said he was served an eviction notice by the L&DO officials to vacate within six days. “They have given six days to vacate the premises. They said if I failed, they will initiate legal action against me,” said the imam.

Its water and electricity supply was cut off on October 7.

Delhi HC refuses to restore water, electricity connection

On October 15, the Delhi High Court refused to order the restoration of the mosque’s water and electricity supply.

The New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) told the court that demolition work, including the removal of jhuggis, was still going on and “there is an element of public harm involved.” It also pointed out that the L&DO, which is overseeing the demolition and will take possession of the land, had not been made a party to the petition.

The mosque is registered under the Delhi Waqf Board and has a capacity of 800 worshippers.

The High Court noted that the Delhi Waqf Board, which it described as the “original occupant” of the premises, had not challenged the disconnection. It also said Haroon, appointed by the Board, had no right to the premises. He, therefore, could not claim that the disconnection violated his fundamental rights.

Owaisi seeks Rijiju’s intervention 

As the matter has taken a national spotlight, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Mujahideen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi urged Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to urgently intervene in the proposed demolition of Delhi’s Race Course mosque.

“You hold responsibility for resolving the issue, as the Delhi Waqf Board has remained unconstituted since 2023. The CEO of the Board could have intervened; that also did not happen,” Owaisi said.