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The escalating communal tensions in Himachal Pradesh, fueled by protests against mosques in Shimla and Mandi over the construction of illegal structures, prompted Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to convene an all-party meeting at his office on Friday. The meeting, aimed at addressing the growing concerns, resulted in a decision to establish a joint committee of leaders under the Vidhan Sabha Speaker to develop a comprehensive policy for street vendors in Himachal Pradesh. The joint statement issued after the meeting highlighted the shared commitment to address the issue of street vendors, a key factor contributing to the recent unrest.
The controversy surrounding the Sanjauli mosque in Shimla, which erupted in August following an altercation between a local resident and a barber from another state, has ignited tensions across party lines. Several leaders emphasized the need to protect the rights of local residents and advocated for stricter regulations on street vendors to control the influx of people from other states. However, the meeting revealed stark differences in opinion regarding the mosque itself, with CM Sukhu characterizing the protests as a “local dispute” related to an illegal structure, while BJP MLA Randhir Sharma insisted on the complete sealing of the mosque pending a final verdict by the municipal commissioner’s court.
Sharma, representing the BJP in the meeting, demanded the entire mosque structure be sealed until the court delivers its verdict on October 5. He argued that public anger towards the mosque, deemed illegally constructed, justified this action. While he acknowledged the need for a joint committee to regulate vendors from other states, he emphasized the immediate priority of addressing the illegal mosque structure. Sharma further criticized the state government’s ministers, including Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, for accusing the BJP of providing funds for the mosque construction during their tenure. He clarified that while the BJP may have contributed to the Muslim community, it was solely for public services, not religious activities. He questioned the Muslim welfare committee’s decision to voluntarily demolish only three stories of the mosque, stating that if the entire structure is deemed illegal, it should be fully demolished.
The meeting was attended by prominent leaders from various political parties, including state Congress president Pratibha Singh, state Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president Surjit Singh Thakur, CPI(M) leader Rakesh Singha, and Congress MLA from Shimla (Urban) Harish Janarth. While the all-party meeting aimed to find a common ground for addressing the issues, the stark differences in perspectives on the mosque dispute and the need for stricter vendor regulations demonstrate the complexity of the situation. The formation of the joint committee and the upcoming court verdict on October 5 will be crucial in determining the future course of action and easing the communal tensions in Himachal Pradesh.
Source: All-party meet over Sanjauli mosque dispute ends, policy for street vendors on the cards