'Reopen Charminar for Namaz' demand by Cong leader stokes fresh row; BJP calls it against law

A new controversy has developed, with a Telangana Congress politician launching a petition to organise a sit-in protest to allow the Charminar in Hyderabad to be open for prayer. On Tuesday, Congress local leader Rashid Khan stated that prayers were previously held at the Charminar, an Archeological Survey of India protected landmark, but Muslims were prevented from praying there. It comes amid widespread dispute over the repair of 27 Hindu and Jain temples in the national capital's Qutub Minar complex, which the ASI protested in a Delhi court last month. 'When we met with Kishan Reddy at the Ministry of Culture, he said there would be a law and order crisis.' I shall collect all signatures and present them to Telangana's secular chief minister.' Rashid Khan stated.