A peace march was taken out on the streets of Shimla on Friday amid protests against illegal construction in the mosque located in Sanjauli, a suburb of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. During this, a message of peace and tranquility was given.
A peace march was taken out on the streets of Shimla on Friday amid protests against illegal construction in the mosque located in Sanjauli, a suburb of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. To maintain communal harmony, Sadbhavna March was taken out under the banner of Shimla for Peace and Harmony.
Retired IAS officers and professors, Muslim community, college and university students also participated in the Sadbhavna March. People associated with different organizations gathered outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office at 11 am and marched from Shere Punjab via Lower Bazaar and Naz. During this, a message of peace and tranquility was given. The people gathered in the march were holding many banners in their hands. It was written in different types of banners that unity in diversity, love and knowledge is a symbol of harmony, all communities have the right to live freely, communalism is the enemy of humanity, maintain peace and mutual harmony in the state and Shimla.
People participating in the Sadbhavana rally reached near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi installed on the ridge ground and took oath to maintain communal harmony, peace, brotherhood and national unity. Hundreds of people including CITU State President Vijendra Mehra, former Mayor Sanjay Chauhan, former CPI(M) MLA Rakesh Singha, AAP leader Rakesh Ajta, retired IAS Deepak Shanan, Ajay Sharma were present in the Sadbhavana March.
Former Mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation, Sanjay Chauhan, while talking to the media during the Sadbhavana March, said that people of all religions have been living together in Shimla for a long time. Now efforts are being made to spoil the atmosphere regarding the controversy. An attempt was made to create such a situation in Shimla, which the common citizen here never supports.
He said that such communal and caste based disturbance has never happened in the 175 year old Shimla Municipal Corporation. To maintain this brotherhood, a goodwill march has been taken out today in Shimla. Every section has given its participation in this. Through this march, he has appealed to the public to maintain mutual harmony and brotherhood. Shimla is a historical and peaceful city. It is important from the point of view of tourism in the world. Lakhs of tourists come here every year and that is also a part of our business. He said that some people are trying to spoil the atmosphere of this city.
Muslims also took part in the peace march
Qutub Masjid Chairman Mohammad Piru said that he has been living here in Shimla for the last 25 years. Such an atmosphere has never arisen here till date. The government and administration should verify all the people coming from outside so that the environment here does not get spoiled.
Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti raised questions
Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti has raised questions on the peace and goodwill march taken out in Shimla. Sangharsh Samiti has issued a post saying that when minor Prachi Rana was murdered in Una by slitting her throat, where was this goodwill? Similarly, why was a goodwill rally not held during the cases of Manohar murder case, Kanhaiya Lal murder case in Udaipur, Rajasthan and the stabbing death of a Dalit school student?
Let us inform that Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti will protest on Saturday i.e. 28th September in all the district headquarters of Himachal on the issues of registration of migrants and construction of illegal mosques. The committee has warned that if the Municipal Corporation Court does not give any decision on the Sanjauli Masjid dispute on October 5, then Jail Bharo movement will be started across the state.
Report: UK Sharma