On Tuesday, various Hindutva organizations held a protest rally to demand demolition of a mosque on Jail road in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Accusing the mosque of being an illegal encroachment, different members marched from Seri Manch towards the premises amidst communal slogans of ‘Jai shree ram’, ‘bantenge to katenge’, ‘ek hain to safe hai’ and other hateful slurs.
Addressing the masses, Hindutva leader Kamal Gautam alleged that illegal migrants (Muslims) are expanding their businesses in Hindu areas like Mandi and they don’t pay taxes. He requested authorities to investigate financial resources, disrupt small businesses and abolish the mosque over bogus suspicion of illegal funding and infringement.
The protest was held by ‘Chhoti Kashi Sangarh Samiti’ that is organized to protect alleged purity of the city from Muslims who are often mistreated and labeled as infiltrators or outsiders. During the 3-hour protest, several serial hate offenders joined in. Yati Satyadevanand Sarswati from Bhartiya Sant Parishad also arrived to provoke the ongoing tensions. They criticized the administration for not working as per desired roadmaps of right-wing ultimatum.
Along with use of abusive language and derogatory communal words, Hindutva groups also targeted current Waqf Board hullabaloo with furious H-pop songs in the background.
“Kesariya jb Kesariya Jb Kesariya Jb aayenge,
Gaddron ke, gaddaron ke hosh thikane aayenge!’ (When the saffron regime will come, the traitorous (Muslims) will regain their senses!), Hindu crowd chanted offensive lyrics to peddle propaganda theories which has devastated the atmosphere and incited insecurities among minorities who are now compelled to confront threatening circumstances.
Across Uttarakhand and India, the Far-right wing organisations have been demanding the abolition of Muslim institutions since long. Muslims of Mandi perceive such fascist demonstrations as an islamophobic attack on their very entity which wants to crush their freedom, authority and right to live with dignity.
Muslims Request Stay On Demolition Order
In September, Ahle Islam Muslim Welfare Committee opposed the Municipality order of demolition drive which labeled the mosque as an illegal property and demanded the board to abolish the edifice within 30 days.
Under the pressures of right-wing groups, the Muslim residents demolished an allegedly unauthorized wall and a room before the mosque premises to safeguard their Namaz nook from Hindutva attacks, but it did not calm the throng.
The court verdict alleged that the mosque was built on PWD (Public Works Department) land without attaining required official permission and it violates Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act. Consequently, Muslim volunteers filed a complaint requesting the higher authorities to stay the demolition order because it would expel them from their own place.
Currently, this case is under review in a TCP court and the situation is highly sensitive between fears of communal flare-ups as political conspiracy theories want to deprive Muslims from practicing their religious freedoms to live with peace and vitality.
