Shimla-5th September,2024
A large crowd gathered outside the Sanjauli Masjid in Shimla on Thursday to protest against the illegal construction of the mosque. The protesters raised slogans and carried the tricolour during the protest. The protest had several locals, shopkeepers, BJP party workers, and various Hindu organisation members.
A protestor named Ankush Chauhan, who happens to be a BJP worker, demanded that the mosque be demolished as it was illegal. He also added that all four mosque floors were illegal; if they had built something prohibited, it would have been immediately demolished. The mosque has been standing there for the last 10 years, but no action has been taken against it.
Chauhan also added that the entire Hindu and Sanatani samaj was fighting against this, and this has nothing to do with BJP vs. Congress. “This is a fight of the Hindu community,” Chauhan added. The protests started after some Muslim men attacked a Hindu and he sustained injuries, which led to the outburst. The locals also demanded an investigation be done on all the newcomers in the state as the number of Muslims is increasing.
Locals protesting against the illegal construction.
The state minister of Himachal Pradesh, Anirudh Singh, asserted that the Muslim community has peacefully coexisted in the state for generations. He strongly emphasized the need to properly verify newcomers in light of the recent influx of people from other states. He said that the matter be considered of utmost importance. He called for constant surveillance to protect and safeguard the people and the region.
In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress administration prioritizes development while ensuring everything is done within the law. This has more to do with legal and illegal constructions than it does with the temple or mosque.
A blame game between BJP and Congress leaders occurred in the assembly following the controversy surrounding the Sanjauli mosque in Himachal Pradesh.
