After UP mosque demolition, now Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh mosque razed
New Delhi: After the demolition of a historic grand mosque in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, the New Delhi administration has demolished another mosque in Shalimar Bagh in the Indian capital.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the BJP government demolished the main portion of the Madina Mosque at midnight on Max Hospital Road in Shalimar Bagh on the pretext of an anti-encroachment drive.
A similar drive was carried out in the area in May and June, when around 150 houses, mostly belonging to Muslims, were demolished.
The demolition sparked protests led by AIMIM Delhi President Shoaib Jamai and caused an uproar among local residents.
Jamai termed demolishing the mosque in the middle of the night “unconstitutional.” “A mosque was demolished in a similar manner in Saharanpur, BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. However, we will not let Shalimar Bagh become Saharanpur Part-2,” he said. He said people were being prevented from approaching within a 100- to 200-metre radius of the site and the mosque’s imam was not being allowed to enter the premises.
He appealed to the authorities to at least allow the imam or mosque committee members to retrieve copies of the Holy Quran from inside.”According to the mosque’s imam and locals, they were not even given time to retrieve the Holy Quran. This is the height of oppression, secretly carrying out such actions in the dark without the knowledge of Delhi or the nation. We are not trying to create any law-and-order situation,” he added.
Jamai questioned how such actions could be carried out against Muslims. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind discussed bulldozer actions against mosques and madrasas in different parts of India at a major meeting in Delhi today, September 23.
Maulana Mahmood Madani convened the meeting. Muslim organisations have expressed concern over demolition and eviction actions involving mosques and madrasas. A major decision is expected to be discussed, with a roadmap outlining options beyond legal proceedings likely to be presented.
