Shimla: Hindu groups in Shimla held a big protest on Thursday, following days of seething anger over the ‘illegal’ construction of a mosque in the state capital’s Sanjauli neighbourhood.
Holding the Tricolour high, the protesters, a united front of BJP activists and others, demanded the structure’s demolition, stating that the Waqf Board illegally acquired the site and built a mosque on it.
“The masjid has been constructed illegally for 10 years, but no action has been taken so far. It should be demolished by the government,” a protester demanded, underlining the protesters’ unwavering determination.
Local officials reported the demonstration grew after some Muslim ‘miscreants’ attacked a man who opposed the mosque’s construction.
“The agitation intensified after the assault incident. Even people from the nearby villages joined the protest today,” said a police officer requesting anonymity owing to the sensitivity of the issue.
The demonstrators are demanding that the police verify the antecedents of local Muslims in order to determine their origin, as some of them are suspected of being Rohingyas or Bangladeshis.
Responding to the controversy over the mosque’s construction, Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh informed the media, “For a long time, the issue of building a mosque in Sanjauli has been gaining momentum. The government is taking action as far as the structural illegality is concerned.”
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Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh said, “Illegal constructions should not be tolerated anywhere in the state. The mosque issue was raised before the Municipal Corporation in 2010, and there have been around 44 hearings in courts. Despite this, the construction was carried out illegally.”
“When ordinary citizens violate rules, they face immediate action. So why has this issue been overlooked for so long? What is illegal is illegal, whether it’s a temple or a mosque,” he added.
Anirudh Singh also urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to keep track on illegal immigrants and verify their police records to see whether they are coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh, or even within India.
On Wednesday, the Vidhan Sabha debated the subject of unauthorised mosque construction.
In response to the problem brought under Rule 62 by Balbir Verma and Harish Janartha, Vikramaditya Singh advised all parties involved to proceed with caution on such a delicate issue.
“Himachal is known for maintaining communal harmony, and all communities have been living here peacefully. I assure that action will be taken as per the law. The case is also being pursued by the Municipal Corporation,” he said.
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–IANS
