Shimla, Sept 3,
Communal gossips and social media messages have escalated in the serene hill town of Shimla following a recent scuffle between two groups from different communities. The incident of a common fight which occurred in the Sanjauli area on Friday, has ignited protests and raised concerns about the ongoing construction of a mosque in the locality.
The CPI(M) submitted a memorandum to the district administration on Monday, urging them to intervene in the brewing controversy. Party District Secretary Sanjay Chauhan has demanded from the District Administration and the State Government that efforts should be made on a war footing to maintain peace and law and order in Shimla city.
He has appealed to the people of Shimla city that Shimla is a historical city and mutual brotherhood has been its foundation. There has never been any division among the people on the basis of religion, caste, region or any other basis in this city. Communal harmony has been the foundation of this city.
In the present situation, some selfish mischievous elements want to turn the question of law and order in Shimla city, Malyana and Sanjauli into communal tension, on which the district administration should intervene immediately and take strict action so that communal harmony, peace, law and order, brotherhood and unity remain in the city. He said that the question of fight between two parties should be resolved under law and order and strict action should be taken against the culprits. Giving communal colour to this two-party dispute is an attack on the constitutional structure of the country. He has said that Shimla city cannot be allowed to become a laboratory of communalism.
It is very important to keep alive the foundation, heritage and legacy of Shimla city’s brotherhood and unity. The campaign to destroy this foundation of the city in a conspiratorial manner will not be allowed to succeed at all. He said that the people of Shimla city have always foiled such condemnable attempts with great intelligence. He assured the administration that the party will stand shoulder to shoulder with the administration and the people in every effort to create communal harmony and establish peace.
Also Local MLA Harish Janartha stated on Monday that the protests began after a scuffle and a crime incident in Malyana, resulting in a case being registered under Section 307 of the IPC.
Congress MLA alleged that some right-wing organizations, along with three Congress councilors, instigated the protests and vandalized fruit stalls belonging to minority sellers in Chamyana, Malana, and Sanjauli.
The initial tension between a local youth and another from minority community has shifted focus to the ongoing construction of the mosque in Sanjauli, with right-wing groups demanding its demolition.
However, it’s important to note that the two issues – the recent scuffle and the mosque construction – are not directly related. Though, attempts have been made to link the two, with some protesters focusing on the alleged illegal construction of the mosque.
The multi-story mosque building is being constructed on Wakf Board land in Sanjouli. The project, initiated during the previous BJP rule, has faced legal challenges, with a case registered against it in the Shimla Municipal Commissioner’s court.
Protesters are demanding the demolition of the mosque, arguing that it violates building norms. However, opponents of the demolition point out that there are several other places of worship in the area that were constructed without prior permission and have encroached on government or forest land.
Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar of the CPI(M) urged the administration to prevent anti-social elements from exploiting the situation to create communal discord. He emphasized that efforts were being made to target the livelihood of minority fruit sellers by linking the two unrelated issues.
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