Sachin Sirohi should be put behind bars. Keeping people like him free is not in the interest of the country, says a mosque representative
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Members of a Hindutva outfit, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Sangathan, attacked a mosque located near Meerut Cantt railway station in Uttar Pradesh, destroyed its bathroom and recited ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ on its premises.
Hindutva leader Sachin Sirohi and his supporters created ruckus before the mosque on Monday calling it “illegal” and demanding it be bulldozed. They shouted slogans favouring a bulldozer action and goading the Yogi Adityanath government to take “appropriate and urgent” action against the mosque.
They claimed that the mosque was built on the land of the railway station calling it “land jihad”.
“Strict action should be taken against all these mosques. We don’t need anything but bulldozer action against the mosque,” said Sirohi.
He also raised objections to the name of the mosque which is called “Cantwali Masjid”.
However, the mosque representatives clarified that the mosque is century-old and it has no dispute regarding its land.
“The mosque is very old and Muslims have been offering namaz for a hundred years without any dispute. But the man named Sachin Sirohi, a hooligan and a terrorist, often targets religious places of Muslims and has been clamouring for their demolition. On 22 March, he along with his supporters came to the mosque, demolished its bathroom and attempted to desecrate religious books,” Riyasat Ali, a representative of the mosque, told reporters.
On Monday, Sirohi again came to the mosque, recited Hindu hymns in front of it and misbehaved with the imam when he attempted to stop the Hindutva mob.
“His action has created a tense situation in the area which is a sensitive place and with a history of communal tension. Sirohi’s actions are anti-national as he wants to spread terror. He should be put behind bars. Keeping people like him free is not in the interest of the country,” said Ali.
The mosque committee has filed a complaint with the police noting vandalism, abusive words, hurting religious sentiments and causing religious strife. Ali said the police officer assured them that an FIR would be registered and Sirohi would be put behind bars.
Mosques, dargahs and other religious places of Muslims are constantly being targeted by the Hindutva outfits in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states. Uttar Pradesh has witnessed several such campaigns against Muslim places of worship. It’s not only the Hindu groups but the government also is targeting the mosques.
In February, a 150-year-old mosque located on Delhi Road in Meerut district was demolished late at night to make way for the construction of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor. The exercise was carried out in the presence of police and administrative officers.
