The controversy over the mosque in Sanjauli area of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh is not stopping. For the last 10 days, protests are being held calling the mosque illegal. Local traders have announced that they will keep their shops and establishments closed today (Thursday). Politics has also heated up on this whole issue. BJP is constantly cornering the ruling Congress. BJP says that Congress is afraid to touch the illegal mosque. Whereas Congress says that assembly elections are being held in many states, so BJP is forcibly raising the mosque issue. Let us know, what is the whole matter?
In fact, Hindu organizations are protesting on the streets demanding the demolition of the disputed mosque in Sanjauli, Shimla. On Wednesday, the police lathi-charged to disperse the crowd. In protest against this, the local traders’ organization has called for a Shimla bandh on Thursday. The Vyapar Mandal has called for keeping shops closed from 10 am to 1 pm today. The impact of the bandh has been seen significantly. Businessmen have kept their establishments closed.
First, know about this entire controversy. Actually, a 5-storey mosque has been built in Sanjauli, Shimla. An illegal building has been constructed in place of the old small mosque. It is alleged that this mosque has been built up to 5 floors without any approval. The construction of this mosque started in 2009 and the controversy started in 2010. Two years after the controversy, in 2012, the Waqf Board gave permission to build the mosque. On the objection of the Municipal Corporation, in 2013, another person gave a proposed map of one floor to the corporation on behalf of the mosque and by 2018, a 5-storey mosque was built without valid approval. People say that when there is a strict ban on the construction of any building more than three and a half floors in Shimla, then how was a five-storey illegal mosque built on government land in Sanjauli area of Shimla and now when the government has come to know that this mosque has been built illegally, then why is the government not taking action against it?
The Waqf Board also admitted that two floors were illegal
In this regard, the Shimla Waqf Board has also accepted that the two floors of the mosque built in Sanjauli are illegal. This matter has been going on in the Shimla Municipal Commissioner Court for many years. The Waqf Board has taken over the entire mosque. The illegal occupation has been removed. This was done by some Muslim community from outside the state. The Imam who was posted here has been removed. Now the residence of outsiders has also been banned.
Why did the controversy start?
There are two theories behind the riot in Shimla. First theory- On August 30, local businessman Yashpal Chauhan was assaulted. All the 6 accused involved in the assault were not from Shimla but outsiders and after the assault, all the accused hid in the mosque. After the assault on Yashpal, protests started due to the accused hiding in the mosque and the issue of illegal construction heated up. Hindu organizations demanded the demolition of the illegal construction of the mosque. Second theory- There has been a long legal battle going on for a long time regarding the illegal construction in the mosque. The matter is in the Shimla Municipal Corporation. The decision of the Municipal Corporation regarding the illegal construction has not come yet. In such a situation, politics is being done by linking the entire matter with the assault. Local people allege that this mosque has become a center for anti-social elements. It has become difficult for them to live in this area and people from outside have occupied their area.
The controversy of Sanjauli Mosque echoed from the road to the house
Here, the local citizens also became angry over the illegal construction of the mosque. On September 5, thousands of people demonstrated in Sanjauli market demanding demolition of illegal construction. A two-day ultimatum was given to the administration. This entire controversy also echoed in the Mansutra of the Assembly. The government assured to take legal action in this matter. Meanwhile, a dispute also arose over the mosque built in the middle of the market in Kasumpti. Here too, people accused people from other states of running the mosque illegally. People allege that this land was taken to build a house and the mosque is being run. Construction is going on without permission.
Local people argue that in the last few years, the government has bulldozed the houses of many people in Shimla, which were four or five storeyed, but the illegal construction of this mosque is going on since 2010 and the Municipal Corporation has ordered to demolish it 35 times, but despite this, no action has been taken against it till date.
What happened on September 11?
Even after a week, the police administration did not take any action, so on Wednesday there was a ruckus again demanding the demolition of Sanjauli Mosque. Various Hindu organizations along with local people protested. To stop the crowd, the police barricaded the Sanjauli tunnel, which was broken by the angry crowd. After that, the protesters started moving towards the mosque while raising slogans. 10 feet high barricades were also installed in the market. The protesters started trying to cross it as well. Meanwhile, the police took charge and a clash took place. The police dispersed the crowd using mild force. A scuffle broke out. In this entire incident, 10 people including policemen were injured. These included women as well. The entire uproar lasted for about 4 hours.
Politics heated up in mosque dispute
– Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said, the government will deal strictly with those who take the law into their own hands. No one has the right to take the law into their own hands. It is not right to give a political color to the matter. Everyone has the right to protest peacefully. But protests should be done without damaging public property. It is also the responsibility of the state government to protect people of all communities.
– BJP leader and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said, local people were protesting for their demands, but it is unfortunate to use lathicharge and water cannon on them. In this entire episode, the government has been taking biased action from the very first day. When it is clear that the mosque is not legal, then just action should be taken. Instead of taking action, the Chief Minister kept threatening the protesters. This is the failure of the government. The attitude of the government has been very negative. The CM did not talk to anyone and neither appealed to anyone for peace nor assured justice. BJP says that this is not a normal matter, but a very sensitive issue. This is a matter related to public sentiment. Thakur says, it was already anticipated that there is anger in the Hindu community. We had already said in the Assembly that the government should take this matter seriously. The government did not take it seriously.
– Congress leader and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh said, this entire case has been going on in the Commissioner Court for 10 years. As soon as the court’s decision comes, the government will take appropriate action in this matter. No one is allowed to take the law into their own hands. Vikramaditya said that for 5 years there was a BJP mayor in the Municipal Corporation and before that there was a CPM mayor for 5 years. We do not want to do politics in this matter.
– BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, Rahul Gandhi says don’t be afraid, but the Congress government of Himachal is afraid. They are not taking action against illegal construction today. The Congress government is afraid to take action against illegal construction.
– Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi says, we have appealed to everyone that peace should be maintained. Section 163 of BNSS was imposed. The prohibitory order has been violated. We also held a meeting with the locals. They had assured that everything would be peaceful but yesterday public property was damaged and barricades were broken. Policemen have also been injured. The law will have consequences. Peace was restored immediately. Citizens are busy in their daily lives. We reiterate that everyone should have faith in the Constitution and the law. Some policemen have been injured in stone pelting. It will be investigated.
Why is the mosque dispute a problem for Congress?
In the Sanjauli Masjid dispute, BJP is cornering the Congress government of the state by accusing it of ‘minority appeasement’. Since there are assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, the matter is sensitive. Its message will go far. Therefore, the Congress government is moving ahead cautiously at every step. It is not in a hurry to take action, from making statements to taking action. At the same time, BJP has got an opportunity to openly corner the Congress government. Experts say that communal issues have been discussed less in the politics of Himachal Pradesh, but BJP can try to strengthen its position in the state by raising such issues. Since Congress wants to maintain the image of a secular party, issues like the Sanjauli Masjid dispute can be challenging for the Congress government. Because they will have to maintain a balance in resolving this issue so that they maintain the trust of the minority community and at the same time do not anger the majority community.
It is believed that if the Congress government is unable to resolve this dispute, it may be accused of administrative failure. This may affect the image of their government and the upcoming elections. At present, BJP is trying to put pressure on the Congress government on the pretext of this issue, due to which Congress has to fight on the political and administrative fronts simultaneously.
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