The Muslim side has taken a big decision on the Sanjauli mosque in Shimla, which has been embroiled in controversy for the last 14 years. Amidst the agitation being carried out by Hindus for the last several days, the Muslim side has said that they will demolish the illegal part themselves. Even before the decision on this dispute pending in the court, the representatives of the Muslim Welfare Committee have told the Commissioner of Shimla Municipal Corporation that the illegal part of the structure should be sealed and they will demolish it themselves. The Muslim side said that they have taken this decision without any pressure to maintain the harmony of Himachal. They also said that if there is any pressure, it is only that love should remain.
Those who submitted the memorandum included the Imam of the mosque, members of the Waqf Board and the mosque management committee. While talking to ANI, Imam Shahzad Alam of Sanjauli mosque said that this matter should not be given political importance. Temple and mosque create love and affection and do not hurt it. He said, ‘We have given this application that whatever is illegal or whatever, whatever decision of the court will come, it will come, but we have seen the conditions yesterday. We all local residents of Himachal live with love and affection. We want to live like this in future also. This matter should not be given political importance.’
He further said, ‘We have applied that we will demolish it ourselves. Whatever decision the court takes in future will be acceptable to us. There is no pressure from anyone on us. The only pressure on us is that our love should remain intact.’ Members of Dev Bhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, who had called for protests against illegal construction in the mosque, welcomed this move. Committee member Vijay Sharma said, ‘We welcome the move of the Muslim community and we will be the first to greet them for taking this initiative in the larger interest.’
Thousands of Hindus took to the streets in Sanjauli on Wednesday demanding the demolition of the illegal part of the mosque. The protesters clashed with the police. The mob also pelted stones at the police during the lathicharge. Many policemen and protesters were injured. The mob had reached very close to the mosque. The police used force to remove the protesters from the spot.
The dispute of this mosque of Sanjauli is going on in the Municipal Court since 2010. Repeated notices were issued by the Municipal Court regarding the illegal construction of the mosque, but even then the mosque kept on getting taller. The former head of the mosque committee had told the court that till the year 2012 the mosque was two-storeyed. It is alleged that the mosque was made five-storeyed without taking proper permission. Cabinet Minister Anirudh Singh had given a statement in the Assembly that this mosque was built on the land of the Himachal government. However, the Waqf Board claimed in the court that the mosque was built on their land.