Shimla, 05 September: The construction of an illegal mosque in Sanjauli became a topic of discussion in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, sparking a heated debate and raising serious concerns about the selective enforcement of building laws by the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC Shimla). Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh ridiculed the claim that the mosque was constructed in the 1950s, instead revealing that the unauthorized construction began in 2010 right under the nose of MC Shimla and went on without a check for almost a decade.
During the discussion, Minister Singh provided a detailed timeline of the illegal construction. He said, “The construction of the mosque began in 2010 and within a year 2,500 sq. ft. of illegal construction was completed while MC Shimla turned a blind eye to it. By 2012, even after a hearing was held, the illegal construction continued and by 2019 four illegal floors of the mosque were built.” Singh criticized MC Shimla for inaction and questioned how such extensive illegal construction could take place without any intervention. “When the illegal construction case began in 2010, how did four complete floors come up? What was MC Shimla actually doing during this time?.”
Adding to the controversy, Singh revealed that the illegal construction has now spread to over 6,000 sq. ft. He further raised concerns about the civic body’s efficiency by revealing a shocking lapse: “In 2023, it was discovered that the person who attended the hearing related to the illegal construction case was not connected to the issue at all, which further highlights the mismanagement and dubious functioning of MC Shimla.”
Singh continued the heated debate, accusing the municipal corporation of adopting double standards. He said ordinary citizens face immediate action for minor violations, while large-scale illegal constructions like the Sanjauli mosque are allowed to continue unchecked.
Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh attempted to ease tensions, saying legal action would be taken if the court finds the mosque’s construction illegal. “The law will do its job and action will be taken as per rules. However, we should avoid dangerous rhetoric that could worsen the situation,” he warned.
Congress MLA Harish Janartha defended the mosque’s presence, arguing that the issue was being given an unnecessary communal twist. He clarified that the mosque was built on Waqf Board land, and construction began 10-15 years ago. Janartha also referred to a recent fight between locals, which he said was being misrepresented to escalate the controversy.
BJP MLA Balbir Singh Verma, who brought the issue to the attention of the House, warned that the situation was worsening in Sanjauli, where large religious congregations were being held regularly. “The mosque is surrounded by temples, schools and educational institutions, where 99% of the residents belong to other religions. Propaganda in the name of religion should not be allowed in such a sensitive area,” Verma asserted. He called for a stop to such congregations.
During the debate on the Sanjauli mosque dispute in the Assembly, questions began to arise about the manner in which MC Shimla dealt with illegal constructions. With over 6,000 sq ft of unauthorised construction completed and no meaningful action taken, the issue is now being seen as a test of governance and accountability in Shimla’s municipal administration. The alleged inaction of MC Shimla and the growing tension around the religious structure have raised questions about governance and fairness in the city’s development rules.
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