Wave of demolitions’ hits mosques, dargahs in Rajasthan: Owaisi
Hyderabad: Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has raised concern over a “wave of demolitions” targeting mosques, dargahs and other Muslim religious structures in Rajasthan’s border districts, including Bikaner, Phalodi, Jaisalmer and Barmer.
According to Kashmir Media Servic,e Owaisi’s statement said, multiple religious sites are being demolished or marked for removal by authorities, with notices reportedly issued to a large number of other structures.AIM Says 13 Religious Sites Already Demolished
Speaking to AIMIM Bikaner District President Shafi Jameel Qasmi, Owaisi cited several demolitions already carried out across the region. Qasmi said, “Four mosques in Bikaner and nine mosques and dargahs across Phalodi, Jaisalmer and Barmer have already been demolished.”He added that notices have been issued to hundreds of other religious places, creating fear among local communities.
Among the structures mentioned is the nearly 250-year-old dargah of Hazrat Mahmood Shah Jilani on the Ramgarh–Tanot bypass road in Jaisalmer.
The AIMIM leader said that the demolitions are being justified on grounds of security and land-related concerns, but questioned the selective nature of the action.“These demolitions are being justified on national security grounds. However, none of the people in these areas have ever been involved in any such activities.
Only Muslim places of worship are being targeted,” Qasmi said. He further said that while authorities initially cited encroachment on grazing land, the justification later changed in cases where ownership documents were produced.
