Muslims stage sit-in inside historic Shahi Masjid to stop demolition in Ujjain
Ujjain: Hundreds of Muslims in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain are camping inside the historic Shahi Masjid to prevent its partial demolition amid heavy police deployment and stationing of bulldozers.
The mosque has been marked for demolition on the pretext of a 730-metre road-widening project from Khajur Wali Masjid to Ganesh Chowk.
Residents said they have been sitting inside the mosque in shifts for over two weeks on unanimous decision of eleven-member Masjid Numainda Committee, offering all five prayers inside, after administration allegedly attempted midnight demolition on Sunday with Rapid Action Force deployed.
“If this mosque is demolished, 28 other mosques are in line. They cannot keep demolishing mosques only because it is coming in way of something,” prominent Indore cleric Mufti Junaid told the media, alleging earlier betrayal over Takhiya Mosque demolition despite assurances.
He said, “We have decided: if they want to run bulldozer, they can run over us and then over mosque. If our religious structures are razed, what will we do?”
Madhya Pradesh High Court recently dismissed two petitions challenging Ujjain Municipal Corporation notices, citing expected arrival of crores of devotees for Kumbh. Petitioners argued mosque is over century-old Waqf property, citing 1925 Scindia-era letter and 1985 gazette notification. The management is now approaching Supreme Court, advocate Zaid Pathan said.
Police have barricaded all sides around mosque located opposite Mahakaleshwar Temple near Kshipra River, while around a thousand people were sitting inside after Zuhr prayers to halt demolition for second consecutive night.
