The minister also labelled Muslims coming to the state as ‘Bangladeshi’ and ‘Rohingya’
Team Clarion
SHIMLA — The three-time Congress MLA and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Anirudh Singh, has come under severe criticism for supporting the allegations levelled by some Hindutva outfits against a mosque constructed on the Waqf land in this capital city of Himachal Pradesh.
Participating in a debate in the state assembly on Thursday, Singh even went on to demand curbs on Muslims coming to the state for their trade and business purposes calling them “Rohingya” and “Bangladeshi”.
According to the officials, the mosque was built on the Waqf land before 1947 in the Sanjauli area of the city. However, there are issues with the upper floors which were built later and the matter is sub-judice. Following a recent fight between two persons from different communities, Hindu groups started a campaign against the mosque and Muslims.
However, Singh went on to call the mosque an “illegal structure” and alleged that “they (the Muslims) have a habit of engaging in illegal activities”.
“They started construction without approval. It was an illegal structure. First, one floor was built, then the rest followed. They have a habit of engaging in illegal activities. They built a 5-storey mosque. This entire matter should be investigated,” he said.
The minister also called Muslims coming to the state “Bangladeshi” and “Rohingyas”.
“What kind of situation is developing in the state? New people are coming in every day…People from the Jamaat are arriving, and there’s no trace of where they are coming from. Are they Rohingyas? I personally know 1-2 people who have come from Bangladesh. They should be verified,” he said.
Singh also expressed concerns over the rising number of street vendors from the Muslim community in the state and demanded that only “bona fide residents” should be permitted vending.
Reacting to the minister’s statements, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi questioned whether Congress or the BJP is in power in Himachal Pradesh.
“Is the Himachal government of BJP or Congress? There is only hatred in Himachal’s “Mohabbat ki Dukaan”! In this video, the Himachal minister is speaking in the language of BJP,” said Owaisi.
The Hyderabad MP said the mosque construction case is in the court. “A group of Sanghis have demanded the demolition of the mosque. Congressmen are in the field to honour Sanghis. Citizens of India can live in any part of the country. Calling them “Rohingya” and “outsiders” is anti-national,” he said.
Modifying a statement of famous fiction writer Premchand, Owaisi said: “Communalism is ashamed to come out openly, so it comes wearing the shawl of Congress”.
Prominent human rights activist and Prof Apoorvanand called on the Congress party to censure Singh for spewing venom against Muslims.
“Is this the official policy of the Congress Party? If not, how is he, a minister, allowed to spew venom against Muslims in the assembly? The government and the party need to censure him. To ignore him is dangerous for the state and the Congress Party as well,” he said.
Author and YouTuber Ashok Kumar said that what Singh has said about Muslims is the language of the BJP leaders.
“Has the BJP government been formed in Himachal? This seems to be the case with the BJP, the same language, the same logic, the same hatred for Muslims that is found in Himanta Biswa Sarma. Congress friends should confirm that it is their government, if so, then how did a minister from BJP come?” he said.
