Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat have questioned the selective approach of the authorities in reclaiming government land
Team Clarion
HARIDWAR — In the ongoing demolition drive targeting Muslim places of worship and other structures of religious significance across the country, especially in the BJP-ruled states, the Haridwar district administration, under heavy security, demolished a mazar (mausoleum) in Mirpur village of Uttarakhand’s Bahadarabad earlier this week.
The authorities, as they have been doing almost at all places, termed the mazar as “illegal” and claimed to have been constructed on the land owned by the Rehabilitation Department.
Local authorities ensured the operation was conducted smoothly and without disruptions, underscoring their focus on addressing encroachments in the region.
However, the demolition has drawn concern from several Muslim bodies, who have condemned the act, describing it as part of a larger pattern of targeting religious sites of minority communities. Organisations such as the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat questioned the selective approach of the authorities in reclaiming government land. They acknowledged that illegal constructions should be addressed by law but stressed that religious sentiments must be respected and due process followed.
These organisations have called for fairness and transparency in the administration’s actions, urging dialogue to avoid inflaming communal tensions. They emphasised that actions like this could foster a sense of alienation among minority communities and advocated for a more balanced approach to reclaiming land.
