Planned mosque near Ground Zero draws both protest,support

Polls have indicated that a majority of Americans oppose the mosque in its proposed location.

As Americans paid homage to the victims of the 9/11 attacks,the controversial plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero,the site of the terror strikes,has drawn mixed reactions from people here with thousands of them,including Indian-Americans,staging rallies both in protest and support of the proposal.

Narain Kataria,who organised a gathering of Indian-Americans8217; against the planned mosque on the ninth anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks on Saturday,gave the 8220;dubious sources8221; of funding as one of the main reasons for his opposition.

Several polls have indicated that a majority of Americans oppose the mosque in its proposed location,two blocks away from the World Trade Centre.

Even as the Muslims have the constitutional right to build a mosque in that spot,a large group of people insist that it is 8220;insensitive.8221;

8220;What is more important8230;legality or sensitivity,8221; said Sucheta Arya,originally from New Delhi who now lives here. 8220;I am supporting the Americans who want this mosque to be shifted.8221;

Sharad Thakur,a software engineer from Mumbai who recently shifted to New York,also voiced his opposition to the mosque proposal.

An estimated 150 Indian-Americans showed up to say 8220;no,8221; according to organisers.

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Thousands of other anti-mosque protesters also blasted President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for their support of the Islamic Centre at the site.

8220;Wake up America,8221; said a speaker,who belonged to the Coptic Christian Church in Egypt,while another one cried 8220;Just because you can do something doesn8217;t make it right.8221;

Joining the Indian-American protesters,Revered Samuel Samson,who is from Rawalpindi in Pakistan,said 8220;it was a big slap on the best country of the world.8221;

8220;Freedom of religion is one thing,destroying the religion is another,8221; he said.

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On the other hand,a large number of New Yorkers,who are proud of the unique diversity of their city,have welcomed the construction of the Muslim Community Centre in the neighbourhood.

8220;We are for it,8221; Mary Perillo,who has lived in the area for 27 years,said at a pro-mosque rally.

8220;We want the community centre,we are about inclusion8230;why are we New Yorkers because we like to be around people from all over the world,8221; Perillo said.

8220;I want a community centre,which I can go to and take a cooking class,8221; she said to a cheering crowd.