Amid escalating tensions over the Sinjauli mosque in Shimla, a masjid committee has written to the local civic body stating they’ll “demolish the disputed part of the mosque if found illegal”. The panel also urged the civic body to “seal” the disputed portion.
In its memorandum addressed to the Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhupendra Attri, the mosque panel stated, “The illegal part of the mosque should be sealed. If the mosque is found illegal in the administration’s investigation, then as per the order, the Masjid Committee itself wants to demolish the disputed part.”
A delegation of the committee met the Municipal Commissioner and said Muslims living in the locality are permanent residents of Himachal Pradesh and it was taking the step to preserve harmony and brotherhood.
The hill state’s mosque committee’s letter came amid high-voltage protests demanding the demolition of the “illegal” structure in the mosque.
“We have sought permission from the Shimla municipal commissioner to demolish the unauthorised part of the mosque situated in Sanjauli,” member of the committee Mufti Mohammad Shafi Kasmi said.
The Imam of the Sanjauli mosque said, “There is no pressure on us, we have been living here for decades and this decision has been taken as a Himachali. We want to stay in peace and brotherhood should prevail.” Attri confirmed receipt of the representation.
Members of the Dev Bhoomi Sangarh Committee who had given the protest call against the unauthorised construction in the mosque welcomed the move.
“We welcome the move of the Muslim community and would be the first to hug them for taking this initiative in the larger interest,” member of the samiti Vijay Sharma said.
Congress Reacts
Himachal Pradesh Minister and Congress leader Anirudh Singh responded to the developments and said, “Some organisations wanted to give it a political angle and destroy Himachal’s communal harmony. On Wednesday, there was no lathi-charge. Stones were hurled at police personnel and six of them were injured. We are in touch with protesters.”
State Minister Vikramaditya Singh said, “I appeal to the Opposition to not do politics. The illegal construction was undertaken during the Covid-19 pandemic and an investigation is under process.”
Protests In Shimla
On Wednesday, hundreds of protestors were lathi-charged by security forces after they broke police barricades during a demonstration.
A large crowd gathered at the Sabzi Mandi Dhalli and marched towards Sanjauli to lodge their protest and broke the barricades erected near a tunnel. As the protestors, who had gathered at the call of Hindu groups, broke the second barricade near the mosque, police resorted to lathi-charge and used water cannons to disperse them.
Amid escalating tensions in the area near the mosque and a bandh call issued by Hindu outfits, Sanjauli, and the nearby areas have been fortified with police deployment.
The Shimla district administration issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, barring the assembly of more than five people and the carrying of lethal weapons.
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