The dispute over Ram Janmabhoomi has been a long-standing issue. In 1992, amid a major movement, the 16th-century Babri Masjid was demolished, with claims that it was built on the site of Ram’s birthplace. This led to extensive legal battles, culminating in a Supreme Court verdict in 2019 that awarded the disputed land for the construction of a Ram Temple. While the Ram Temple is nearing completion, the status of the new Babri Masjid remains uncertain.
It has been nearly four years since the Babri Masjid Trust was established. The mosque’s design was unveiled in December 2020, yet no construction has started on the five acres of land allocated for it. Currently, only a signboard at the Dhannipur village site, located 25 kilometers from the Ram Janmabhoomi site, marks the planned location of the mosque. There has been no visible progress beyond this sign.
In stark contrast to the Ram Temple, which raised significant funds quickly, only 9 million rupees have been collected for the Babri Masjid over the past four years. Zafar Faruqi, Chairman of the Sunni Central Waqf Board and Chief Trustee of the Babri Masjid Trust, told The Print, “There is a lack of public interest in the mosque. People don’t seem to feel a strong connection to it. Despite our efforts to engage with the community, fundraising has been slow. The funds collected reflect this lack of enthusiasm.”
Originally, the plans for the Babri Masjid included additional facilities such as a hospital, museum, and research center. However, these plans have been postponed due to insufficient funds.
Athar Hussain, Secretary of IICF and a Babri Masjid Trust Trustee, noted, “Constructing these additional facilities requires substantial funds. Currently, we are focusing solely on the mosque itself. Building the mosque alone will require at least 60 to 70 million rupees, which we do not have.”
Residents of Dhannipur have also voiced concerns about official negligence and a lack of initiative. One local expressed frustration, noting that after a few clerics visited on Republic Day last year, took pictures, and left, no further action has been taken. There is growing uncertainty among locals about whether the mosque will ever be built.
