Sanjauli mosque dispute: Minister assures action pending legal review

Shimla, September 12: Amid growing protests over the alleged illegal construction of a mosque in Himachal Pradesh’s Sanjauli, Cabinet Minister Vikramaditya Singh has assured that appropriate action will be taken after the legal review is completed. Singh made it clear that if the construction is found to be illegal, the mosque will be demolished.

Addressing the media in Shimla on Wednesday, Singh said, “This issue has been pending for a long time. The government has taken cognizance of the matter and I have firmly stated in the Assembly that as soon as the legal decision comes, if the mosque is found to be illegal, it will be demolished. However, we must go ahead with the legal process and ensure that the rule of law prevails. Our primary objective is to maintain peace in Himachal Pradesh.”

The controversy over the construction of the mosque in Sanjauli sparked protests in the area, with residents expressing their disappointment. Singh acknowledged their concerns but urged not to politicize the situation, saying the matter should not be used to incite communal tension.

In the assembly, MLAs Balbir Verma and Harish Janartha raised the issue, with panchayati raj minister Anirudh Singh also contributing to the discussion. Singh emphasized that the government was taking the matter seriously and deployed additional police force in Sanjauli to maintain law and order. “Protest is a democratic right, but it should be done in a peaceful manner. We will ensure that no political agenda influences the matter,” he said.

To ease the situation further, Singh revealed plans to hold discussions with chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, leader of opposition Jairam Thakur and other political leaders to seek a peaceful solution. “All stakeholders should be involved in resolving the issue in a balanced manner,” he said.

Singh also expressed concern over the increasing influx of people from other states in key areas like Shimla and Dharamsala. Though the exodus cannot be stopped, he said rules related to tehbazaris (street vending) will be strengthened and registration and verification of people from outside states will be intensified to prevent illegal activity.

A committee of ministers, MLAs and Jairam Thakur will be formed to review the existing policies and make necessary changes to ensure better regulation of migrants and street vendors in Himachal Pradesh.