Shimla, Sep 6: A heated exchange took place in the Himachal Pradesh assembly on Wednesday between Urban Development Minister Anirudh Singh and Congress MLA Harish Janartha, centered around the construction of a mosque in Sanjauli, Shimla. Janartha, defending the mosque, emphasized that it had been established before 1960 and accused certain elements of inflaming tensions over three additional storeys added in 2010 on Waqf Board land, reported The Hindu.
In response, Minister Singh claimed that the number of Muslim hawkers, known as Tehbazaris, had been underestimated in the area and insisted that licenses should be limited to “genuine Himachalis.” He also voiced concerns regarding the presence of individuals of Bangladeshi nationality in the region, calling for their thorough verification.
Vikramaditya Singh, another Urban Development Minister, reassured the assembly that the Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s court was reviewing the case of the alleged illegal construction and urged all communities to maintain peace during this period.
Meanwhile, BJP’s Balbir Verma, alongside local residents, demanded the immediate demolition of the unauthorized structures to preserve communal harmony in the region.
The debate reflects ongoing tensions in the state over communal issues and the treatment of minority communities, as well as the scrutiny of those perceived as outsiders.
