Agra: Defying a controversial ban order by the Archeological Survey of India, members of the Taj Mahal Intezamia Committee (TMIC) offered namaz at the mosque inside the Taj Mahal complex on Tuesday.However, the ‘vazu tank’, where the namazis clean themselves up before offering prayers, remained locked and the committee members washed themselves with drinking water before offering prayers.Speaking with TOI, TMIC president Syed Ibrahim Hussain Zaidi said that the ASI workers tried to stop them, but when they protested and asked them to call their seniors, they backed out.Imam Syed Sadiq Ali, whose family has been leading prayers at the mosque for several decades, and led the prayers despite having been told by the ASI to show up only on Fridays.Zaidi said, “Now, we will continue to offer the namaz here as has been the practice for well over 400 years.” He further added that no department or law can stop them from offering prayers at the mosque, as this is their constitutional right.When contacted, ASI’s superintending archeologist (Agra circle) Vasant K Swarankar refused to comment on the development, maintaining that he had no official information on the issue.The move comes days after the ASI’s decision to bar Muslims from offering namaz at the mosque in the premises of the 17the century monument on all days except Fridays.While the ASI officials had claimed they were implementing a July order of the Supreme Court, the apex court had upheld a local administration’s order barring non-residents from offering Friday prayers in the mosque on the grounds of security of Taj Mahal.Since the Taj Mahal is closed for public on Friday, local residents are allowed to offer namaz between noon and 2 pm without paying any entry fee. However, on the other days, any visitor, who had bought a ticket could visit the mosque and offer namaz until now.

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