Himachal minister and party MLAs clash over ‘illegal’ mosque construction in assembly
PTC News Desk: On Wednesday, the Himachal Pradesh assembly was the stage for a heated confrontation between state minister Anirudh Singh and party MLA Harish Janartha during a discussion on a calling attention motion regarding alleged illegal construction at a mosque in Sanjauli.
Harish Janartha, who moved the motion, argued that there was no unrest in the area and clarified that the mosque was originally constructed before 1960. He asserted that while the mosque had been expanded with three additional stories in 2010 on Waqf Board land, the construction had been carried out illegally.
Janartha highlighted that the mosque was frequented by local Muslims and that toilets, built without authorisation, had been demolished. He accused certain individuals of inflaming the situation.
In contrast, Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh raised concerns about the number of Muslim Tehbazaris (hawking licenses), stating that there were 1,900, not 190 as previously reported. Singh called for the issuance of Tehbazari licenses to be restricted to bona fide Himachalis and demanded the cancellation of permissions granted to outsiders. He also alleged that some individuals of Bangladeshi nationality were involved and requested their verification.
Singh’s comments intensified the debate, with concerns being raised about the impact on communal harmony. The controversy surrounding the mosque’s construction has been ongoing, with 44 hearings held to date without a resolution.
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Government Response
Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh responded to the motion by informing the assembly that the issue was under review by the Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s court since 2010. He assured that action would be taken once the case was resolved and appealed to both communities to exercise restraint and uphold communal harmony.
BJP’s Balbir Verma, who initiated the discussion, demanded the immediate demolition of the four unauthorised stories of the mosque. He argued that halting activities under the mosque was necessary to prevent offending the sentiments of other religious groups in the area. Verma noted that many residents of Sanjauli opposed the illegal construction.
The issue has also sparked public protests, with a large number of Hindus gathering in Sanjauli on Sunday to demand the demolition of the unauthorised structures. The tension surrounding the mosque’s construction has significantly affected local communal relations, highlighting the need for a resolution to the ongoing dispute.
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