Hindu outfits in Shimla on Thursday carried out a massive protest after simmering dissent for days against the 'illegal' construction of a mosque in the Sanjauli area of the state capital.
Holding Tricolour, the protesters comprising BJP activists among others, demanded demolition of the structure, claiming the Waqf Board illegally occupied the land and built a mosque on it.
"The masjid has been constructed illegally for 10 years but no action has been taken so far. It should be demolished by the government," a protester demanded.
Local authorities said the protest turned violent after some Muslim 'miscreants' attacked a man who was opposed to the construction of the mosque.
"The agitation gained momentum after the assault incident. Even people from the surrounding villages joined the protest today," said a police officer requesting anonymity owing to the sensitivity of the issue.
The protesters are demanding that the antecedents of the local Muslims should be verified by the police to know their origin as they suspect some of them to be Rohingyas or Bangladeshis.
Responding to the row over the construction of the mosque, Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh told the media, "For a long time the issue of building a mosque in Sanjauli has been gathering momentum. The government is taking action as far as the structural illegality is concerned."
Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh said, "Illegitimate constructions should not be tolerated anywhere in the state. In 2010, the mosque issue was raised before the Municipal Corporation and in the courts, there have been around 44 hearings. The construction still came up illegitimately.
"When ordinary citizens violate rules, they face immediate action. So why has this issue been overlooked for so long? What is illegal is illegal, whether it's a temple or a mosque," he added.
Anirudh Singh further asked Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to maintain the records of illegal immigrants and to verify their police records to find out whether they are coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh, or even from within India.
The issue of unauthorised construction of the mosque was raised in the Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday.
Replying to the issue raised under Rule 62 by Balbir Verma and Harish Janartha, Vikramaditya Singh urged all concerned to tread cautiously on a sensitive issue like this.
"Himachal is known for maintaining communal harmony and all communities have been living here peacefully. I assure that action will be taken as per the law. The case is also being pursued by the Municipal Corporation," he said.
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