Massive protest breaks out in Shimla against 'illegal' construction of mosque in Sanjauli area

NEW DELHI: BJP workers, Hindu organisations and locals held a massive protest in Shimla against the alleged illegal construction of the Sanjauli Mosque.

Scores of people, including local leaders, took out a protest march alleging that the state government and civic authorities were keeping mum on the construction activities at the site.


"This mosque has been built illegally. The four floors of the mosque are illegal. If we construct anything illegally, it is immediately demolished. It has been 10 years, but no action has been taken against the mosque. This illegal mosque should be demolished," news agency ANI quoted BJP worker Ankush Chauhan as saying.


Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh minister rural development minister Anirudh Singh assured people that illegal construction would not be tolerated anywhere in the state.

"The matter regarding the mosque was brought before the Municipal Corporation in 2010, and there have been around 44 hearings in the courts. Despite this, the construction was carried out illegally. When ordinary citizens violate regulations, they face immediate action, so why has this issue been overlooked for so long? Illegal is illegal, whether it's a temple or a mosque," Singh said


"People of various communities live harmoniously in Himachal Pradesh. They taught us to maintain brotherhood in every city. We've urged the chief minister to maintain records of illegal immigrants and to verify their police backgrounds, whether they're coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh, or even within India," Singh added.

(With agency inputs)