Anti-Muslim protests erupt in Shimla: Hindu extremists demand mosque demolition
Shimla: In a disturbing display of anti-Muslim sentiment, hundreds of Hindutva goons gathered in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, demanding the demolition of a mosque located in the Sanjauli suburb.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protesters, numbering nearly 500 from different areas of the city, chanted Hindu slogans and sang Hindu hymns near the four-storey mosque, creating a tense atmosphere around the Muslim place of worship.
The protestors went beyond mere demonstrations, urging local residents to refrain from selling or renting properties to Muslims. The campaign against Muslims and the mosque started after an alleged dispute between a businessman and some other traders in Malyana area of the city and members of the Muslim community.
Shimla-based journalist Chander Sekhar Luthra reported on social media that the situation has worsened with local police officials participating in the discrimination. Luthra noted that police were seen instructing shop owners to dismiss Muslim employees, a move he condemned as blatant religious bias. “In my 55 years, I’ve never witnessed such a shameful display of intolerance in Shimla or Himachal,” Luthra stated, expressing shock at the police’s role in exacerbating the situation.
The unfolding events underscore a troubling trend of anti-Muslim bias in Modi’s India, reflecting a broader pattern of religious intolerance and discrimination that continues to escalate in various parts of the country.
