Controversy over mosque in Sanjauli, Shimla
The atmosphere is calm on Friday after protests by Hindu organizations against the construction of a mosque in Shimla’s Sanjauli on Thursday, but tension in the area remains. The ongoing illegal construction of the mosque has been in dispute since 2007 and the matter is currently pending in the Municipal Commissioner’s Court, which is scheduled for a crucial hearing on September 7.
A total of 44 hearings have been held in this case so far. The Muslim side claimed the mosque to be the property of the Waqf Board, the Imam of the mosque, Maulana Shahjad, says the mosque existed here before 1947 and the Waqf Board is looking into the ongoing court case.
Why did the controversy rise and why did the protests take place?
The dispute over the construction of the mosque is old, but the reason behind the sudden massive demonstration against it is a fight between shopkeepers from two different communities. In Manyali, Shimla, a fight broke out between a salon owner and an electrical equipment shopkeeper whose shops were adjacent to each other. The dispute escalated into fistfights, after which local shopkeepers initially intervened and pacified both sides, but the fight did not stop here, shopkeepers from both communities gathered their people and attacked each other again, killing an electrical equipment shopkeeper. After the attack, people from the Hindu community were enraged and organizations came together and planned to protest.
How did the Manyala issue reach Sanjauli?
Sanjauli in Shimla has the largest number of Muslim community as compared to Manyala. Apart from this, a dispute related to the construction of a mosque is pending which is likely to be decided on September 7. Local people say that this is why Sanjauli was made the center of protest. The issue has become major after violent clashes between people of two different communities and now Hindu organizations have given a two-day ultimatum to the government and the administration.
He says that the court and the administration should take a decision on this soon and take bulldozer action against the illegal constructions, otherwise the people of Shimla will take the decision in their own hands Security has been increased by deploying police around the mosque.
You will not be able to pray in the mosque on Friday
Following Thursday’s protest in Sanjauli, the tension on Friday is such that people from the Muslim community have been asked to refrain from gathering in mosques. The maulana of the mosque said that the namaz will be held at the scheduled time but the people of the community are scared, so they have been asked not to gather in the mosque. Maulana Shahjad said that most of the Muslim community here are from outside states and are scared by the incident.
What did the maulana of the mosque say about the controversy?
Speaking to TV9, the Maulana of the mosque has admitted that the mosque has had some defects which have led to controversy over the mosque till date, but Maulana Shahjad also said that the local people also know that the mosque has some defects. It has been here since ancient times and it is only from Himachal. Maulana has also appealed to the people to maintain peace and brotherhood among themselves.
What will happen next in the mosque dispute?
A dispute related to the construction of a mosque is currently pending in the Municipal Commissioner’s Court, which is scheduled for an important hearing on Saturday. Local people say that if the decision is in accordance with their demands, the dispute will not go further but if the decision is different from their demands, people may get angry and protests may start again. Apart from this, the two-day ultimatum given by Hindu organizations will expire on Sunday, after which tensions are likely to escalate.
