Local Muslims wanted the mosque to be rebuilt in the airport area but the airport authorities rejected the demand saying no place of worship could be allowed on airport land.

The latest move by the government has evoked strong protest from the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), a powerful Muslim political party in the state capital. MIM leader in state assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi termed allotment of land for the mosque away from the airport as rubbing salt into wounds.

Owaisi demanded that the demolished mosque be rebuilt at its original site. He said Muslims would never accept land for the mosque at any other place. He fears that this could also set a precedent for the authorities to demolish mosques or other places of worship and provide alternate lands at other places.