India, Nov. 4 -- AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday criticised the Centre's stand before the Delhi High Court that a century-old mosque located within Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi must be removed to facilitate a government redevelopment project.

The Union government told the court that a permanent religious structure within a government office complex was impermissible and incompatible with the secular character of government property.

Taking aim at the NDA government over the issue, Owaisi pointed to the Bhoomi Pooja ceremony held for the Central Vista project.

"Apparently, secularism is not offended by the use of one faith's rituals for a public project, but is allergic to a masjid that has stood there even before 1912, lon...