‘Muslim Community Wants Illegal Structures Razed’: Himachal CM As Demolition Of Shimla Mosque Floors Begins

Shimla News: The demolition of unauthorised floors of the Sanjauli mosque has begun. Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu highlighted the voluntary cooperation from the Muslim community.

Shimla: Demolition of the illegal portion of the Sanjauli mosque underway, in Shimla, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.

Source : PTI

The demolition of illegally constructed floors of the Sanjauli mosque in Shimla has commenced, following a court order. On October 5, the Shimla Municipal Court directed the removal of the second, third, and fourth floors of the mosque, citing unauthorised construction. A significant police presence has been deployed around the mosque to maintain law and order throughout the demolition process.

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, addressed the issue, highlighting the voluntary cooperation from the Muslim community. According to news agency ANI, he stated, "The people of the mosque themselves said that if something is illegal we will demolish it, so our brothers from the Muslim community, the head of the mosque, the Imam, they themselves want it (to be demolished) as it is illegal and they want harmony. There is no government intervention."

#WATCH | Shimla: On Sanjauli mosque, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says, "The people of the mosque themselves said that if something is illegal we will demolish it, so our brothers from the Muslim community, the head of the mosque, the Imam, they themselves want it… pic.twitter.com/d5MCnE6OJu

— ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2024

Mohammad Latif, the Chairman of the Sanjauli Mosque Committee, confirmed that the demolition process had begun, with the mosque's roof being removed after receiving necessary approvals, news agency IANS reported. He stated, "It will take two to three months to demolish the entire illegal construction." He emphasised that the decision to proceed with the demolition was made to preserve "mutual brotherhood and communal harmony."

Permission for the demolition was granted on October 9, and the Shimla Municipal Court has allotted two months for the Sanjauli Mosque Committee to complete the demolition at its own expense. 

Row Over Sanjauli Mosque Demolition In Shimla

The controversy surrounding the Sanjauli mosque has been ongoing for several years. Local residents had called for its demolition, leading to the first notice issued by the Shimla Municipal Corporation in 2011. Despite this, the mosque expanded into a five-storey structure by 2018 without obtaining necessary approvals. In recent months, the Sanjauli Mosque Committee sought authorisation from the Waqf Board—claimed to be the land's owner—to proceed with the demolition. Although the Waqf Board had initially defended the construction's legality, it failed to provide the required documentation to substantiate its claims, IANS reported.

The issue has also led to protests by Hindu organisations, demanding the demolition of other allegedly illegal mosques in Himachal Pradesh. The matter was raised in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, where Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh expressed his support for the mosque's demolition.

According to IANS, the dispute over the Sanjauli mosque intensified after an incident in Shimla's Malyana area, where a Hindu man was allegedly assaulted by six individuals who reportedly sought refuge in a nearby mosque. This incident triggered protests from Hindu groups, who reiterated their demand for the mosque's demolition on grounds of illegal construction.

The next court hearing on the matter is scheduled for December 21.