India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma.
For the first time on Thursday, the fire of religious conflict was seen in Shimla. For the first time, thousands of people came out on the streets. Everyone’s demand was that the Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims who had come to Shimla should be thrown out. Everyone’s complaint was that these people have become a threat to peace and brotherhood in Shimla. This matter became big because Himachal’s Congress government minister Anirudh Singh also joined this protest. He said that the demands of the protesters were justified. Anirudh Singh also requested the Chief Minister in the Assembly. He said that an inquiry should be conducted as to how the number of outside Muslims suddenly increased in Shimla, how the Rohingya Muslims took over the streets and markets. When Anirudh Singh joined the protest of Hindu organizations, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu had to say that ministers and MLAs should not get involved in such matters. The people of Shimla have given an ultimatum to the government that the illegal mosque built on government land in Shimla should be demolished within two days. It is alleged that this mosque has become a refuge for outside Muslims, this mosque is the center of all the troubles, if the government does not demolish the mosque then Hindus will do it themselves.
When the matter escalated, leaders like AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress MP Imran Masood also jumped into the controversy. They said that this is an old mosque, and the matter is in court, so the question of demolishing it does not arise. Shimla is usually peaceful. It is full of tourists, but on Thursday, thousands of people reached the streets of Shimla shouting slogans. An appeal to Hindus to gather in Chaura Maidan was made by the Devbhoomi Kshatriya Organization. Opposition to the mosque was just a small reason. The main reason for people’s resentment was the incidents of robbery, theft, and molestation happening every day in Shimla and in most of the cases, the people who commit such acts are outside Muslims. People allege that Sanjauli Mosque has become a refuge for such people. The mosque which earlier had only one floor, now has four floors, where earlier only two or four people used to live, now more than three hundred people keep coming and going to the mosque. People say that the mosque is illegal because it is built on government land.
There is a ban on building a building more than two and a half storeys high in Shimla. The protesters also made it clear that they have no problem with the Himachali Muslims living in Shimla but the Rohingya and Bangladeshi Muslims coming from outside have become a threat to brotherhood. The protesting women said that the Rohingya Muslims have taken over the shops on the streets of Shimla, the hawkers and the pavements, they do not allow Hindus to set up shops, they tease the sisters and daughters on the road, and if there is any protest, they resort to bloodshed. Minister Aniruddh Singh said in the Assembly that the mosque began to be built in 2007, a complaint was made in 2010, the case went to court but the work on the mosque continued and now the mosque has become four storeys high. Aniruddh Singh expressed surprise that the case continued for 14 years, the mosque continued to be built and the administration kept sleeping. Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that the matter of Sanjauli Masjid is in the court, 44 hearings have been held, and whatever decision the court gives, the government will implement it. He admitted that illegal construction was done in the mosque.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi jumped into the controversy. He asked Rahul Gandhi how did the shop of love get filled with so much hatred, the case of the mosque is in court and the Hindutva supporters are demanding its demolition, while Congress ministers are supporting them, calling the citizens of the country Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. Congress MP from UP Imran Masood said that Anirudh Singh is speaking the language of BJP by using phrases like love jihad and Rohingya infiltrators, which is not right, he will raise this matter in front of the top command. Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu said that ministers should not make communal statements, no one has the right to take the law into their own hands. After the court’s decision, his government will take necessary steps.
Seeing the anger of the people of Shimla, seeing such a large number of protesters, it is clear that the mosque dispute is just a trigger point. The real problem is that people from outside have suddenly come and settled in Shimla. Shimla, which was safe for women, is now witnessing molestation every day. Shimla, which was always peaceful, is now witnessing fights and incidents of robbery every day. People in Shimla have been living together in brotherhood for generations. A large number of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas have come from outside and started living in basements. They have no identity, nor any restrictions on them. Secondly, the outside Muslims who have settled in Shimla find shelter in the mosque, hundreds of people gather in the mosque on Friday, there have been many incidents of fighting which is a very unusual incident for Shimla.
The biggest thing is that in Shimla, construction of more than two and a half floors is not permitted, then how did a four-storey mosque come up? The thing to note is that this illegal construction did not happen in a few months, it took years, during this time both Congress and BJP governments were in power. But no one took any action. If this issue had been raised by a BJP leader, it would have been given the color of RSS. But this question was raised by the local Congress MLA, who is a minister in Sukhu’s government. What Anirudh Singh said in the assembly is a warning. The Chief Minister spoke about the law, but he will have to understand the sentiments of the people of Shimla. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu himself is from Shimla, he understands the feelings of the people. He should adopt a comprehensive approach towards this problem. (Rajat Sharma)
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