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Shimla, September 4 (HS). The issue of the construction of a disputed mosque in Sanjauli suburb of Himachal Pradesh's capital Shimla echoed in the assembly on Wednesday. Public Works Minister and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, in response to the discussion on the attention motion brought by MLAs Harish Janartha and Balbir Verma under Rule 62 in the assembly, said that action will be taken under the law on the illegally constructed mosque.
Vikramaditya Singh said that the matter of illegal construction in the mosque is pending in the court of the Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner since 2010 and as soon as the decision comes, action will be taken as per the decision. He urged the MLAs of both the Congress and BJP parties not to exaggerate this matter so that communal harmony is maintained.
During the discussion, there were taunts between Shimla MLA Harish Janartha and Rural Development Minister and Kasumpti MLA Anirudh Singh regarding interference in each other's areas.
Earlier, MLA Balbir Verma raised the issue and said that the four floors of the illegally constructed mosque in Sanjauli should be demolished immediately and all activities in the mosque should be stopped so that the sentiments of people of other religions living around the mosque are not hurt. He said that the residents of Sanjauli have opposed the illegal construction and other activities in the mosque rising above party politics. He also alleged that the communal atmosphere in Sanjauli is getting spoiled due to this mosque.
Shimla MLA Harish Janartha denied any tension due to the mosque and said that this mosque is from before 1960. However, its three floors have been constructed illegally after the year 2010. He also said that this mosque is built on the land of Waqf Board and not only people from outside states but also people from the local Muslim community live in this mosque. He said that the toilets built illegally in the mosque have been removed. He accused some people of forcibly spreading sensation on this matter.
On this issue, Rural Development Minister Aniruddh Singh rejected all the arguments of the local MLA and said that Harish Janartha claimed that there are only 190 Muslim Tehbazari in Shimla, whereas their number is more than 1900. He said that only Himachali bonafide people should be allowed to do Tehbazari in Shimla and all permissions given to outsiders should be cancelled. He also said that 44 hearings have been held so far in the case of illegal construction of the mosque in Sanjauli due to which the communal atmosphere has deteriorated, but the decision has not been given yet. He termed this trial as a sham. He also alleged that he knows some people in Shimla who are Bangladeshis and their verification should be done.
