A sick woman asks former chief minister Jairam Thakur to remove the mosque in Shimla; Muslims feel communal poison is now reaching ordinary minds
SHIMLA — A disturbing moment inside a government hospital in Shimla has highlighted how deeply anti-Muslim hate has entered everyday life, after a woman lying on a hospital bed demanded the removal of the Sanjauli mosque in front of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader former chief minister Jairam Thakur.
The incident took place last week at Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital, when the Leader of the Opposition, Jairam Thakur, visited patients to distribute fruits on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
A video of the incident, now widely shared on social media, shows a visibly unwell woman raising the mosque issue during a brief interaction. She is heard saying, “You are not even able to remove one mosque. How will our daughters and daughters-in-law remain safe?”
Her remark stunned those present in the ward and created an awkward silence. Witnesses said Jairam Thakur appeared taken aback. He did not argue or respond in detail, folded his hands in greeting and moved on. As he walked away, he was heard saying, “Everyone is working on it.”
Muslim groups and rights activists say the scene reflects how years of hate talk by Hindutva groups are shaping public thinking. A local Muslim resident said, “When such words come from a hospital bed, it shows how normalised hate against Muslims has become.”
The episode comes amid rising tension in Himachal Pradesh. In recent days, Kashmiri Muslim traders in Kangra were reportedly stopped, abused and forced to chant Hindu religious slogans by members of some Hindutva groups. No strong action has been announced in those cases either.
The Sanjauli mosque in Shimla has been under pressure for months. Hindu organisations have repeatedly protested, demanding its removal. Muslim representatives say the mosque is old and legally valid. They point to nearly 100-year-old land and mosque documents submitted by a local resident, which they say are being ignored.
A member of the Muslim community in Shimla said, “It is wrong to say there are no records. Papers have been given. Still, only the mosque is targeted, while other illegal buildings are left untouched.”
In December 2025, following Himachal Pradesh High Court directions, the upper three floors of the mosque were demolished by the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board itself. Muslim leaders say this shows respect for the law. They add that despite this, pressure has not eased.
In recent weeks, Hindu groups even stopped Friday prayers, demanding the complete removal of the mosque.
A community elder said, “We believe in the courts. We want a fair check of documents. Turning this into a fear issue for women is dishonest and dangerous.”
Hospital officials did not issue a formal statement on the incident, saying the programme continued smoothly after a brief pause. Still, the video and the woman’s words have sparked serious debate in Shimla.
For many Muslims, the worry is larger than one comment. As one local man put it, “When leaders stay quiet and such words go unchallenged, hate feels approved. That is what frightens us most.”Show original message
