While addressing the joint press conference related to the recent protests by the residents and a few right-wing activists including Hindu Jagran Manch demanding the demolition of the unauthorized structure of the mosque in the Sanjauli area of Shimla, Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh revealed that to maintain the communal harmony and maintain internal security and peace, the President of the Sanjauli Mosque Committee Mohammed Latif and Member of the Wakf Board Maulvi Shezaad with other representatives of the mosque committee has handed over a letter to the Commissioner MC Shimla wherein they have voluntarily agreed upon to seal the entire portion of the illegally expanded structure or if MC permits, they were also ready to demolish the same and also agreed upon that they will accept the directions of the court in the public interest.
The duo stated that Himachal was a peaceful state and no one will be allowed to disturb the serenity of the State and create lawlessness. Himachal has always been a symbol of peace and harmony they said, adding that few were trying to give a communal colour to the entire episode for their vested interest forgetting that it was during the COVID period that the structure was raised in an unauthorized manner when the BJP government was in Power.
Anirudh Singh even revealed that it was during the BJP regime that a sum of rupees two lakh was provided to the mosque authorities from the planning head-VKV/2019/774, by the then BJP government. He also highlighted that the previous BJP government has also released another huge amount in lakhs for the same.
He said that the Government was soon going to bring a policy on the street vendors and hawkers. A decision will be taken soon wherein the Chief Minister and the Speaker Vidhan Sabha will ponder to formulate a body to keep check on the migrants, he said. Not only this the entire antecedents of those staying in rented accommodation or working in business establishments, the hired migrant labourers, domestic help, the street vendors etc would be thoroughly verified besides the government will also consider setting up separate Vending Zones for those who have come to earn their livelihood in the State. Sh. Anirudh said that no one can be denied for doing business in any part of the country in a democratic Nation.
The Ministers welcomed the decision of the President of the Mosque Committee Mohd. Latif and Maulana Shezaad and other members of the Wakf Board, who have voluntarily offered to demolish the disputed structure so that the ‘Aapsi Bhaichara’ (brotherhood) could be maintained.
Anirudh Singh said that the government that had brought the entire incident started after a clash between the two communities at Malyana and as a result, six Muslim youth were detained who were staying there by pseudo name, and a few political outfits gave it a communal twist.
It is a matter of investigation into how the unauthorized structure came up during the COVID era in the previous Government. The then Municipal Officers and officials who were entrusted with the task of planning and checking illegal constructions in the town remained mute spectators will be investigated in times to come, stated Vikramaditya Singh. He appealed to the residents that till the final decision of the Commissioners Court they should keep patience and should maintain harmony and avoid taking the law into their hands.
He reiterated that Himachal was the first State to enact a law of ‘Religious conversion’ during the Congress regime. He said they respect the sentiments of the people and also suggested that the peaceful environment of the State should not be disturbed at any cost. Vikramaditya said that the issue was of legal and illegal structure of the mosque which took an ugly turn being backed up by the BJP leaders. He said that the police had to take some strict decision by use of force to disperse the crowd after stone pelting in which both the police and the locals were hurt, which was not the culture of the Himachali People.
