Cool tempers in HP

A communal flare-up is a rarity in Himachal Pradesh, which is fondly called Dev Bhoomi (‘land of the gods’). After all, gods — and humans — of different faiths have coexisted there for decades, if not centuries. That’s what makes the protests against the unauthorised construction of portions of mosques in Sanjauli (Shimla) and Mandi particularly disturbing. It is lamentable that the authorities failed to pre-empt or prevent a build-up of protesters — including VHP leaders, ex-councillors and panchayat chiefs — at the Sanjauli mosque. Seeking the demolition of the illegal parts, the agitators clashed with security personnel on September 11, breaking through barricades and hurling stones; the police had to use water cannons and batons to disperse them. A day later, members of the Muslim community demolished a mosque’s wall that had been built on encroached government land in Mandi, but that did not stop Hindu groups from taking out a protest march in the town.

Unauthorised structures do not come up overnight, especially at a place of worship. Officials of the administration allow violations right under their noses; citing religious sentiments, they are reluctant to take action. It is this laxity that emboldens encroachers. In the Sanjauli case, this dereliction of duty gave rabble-rousers ample fodder to instigate people.

Encroachments are a bane of HP, which depends primarily on tourism for revenue. However, there should be no double standards when it comes to illegal construction. Targeting a particular community, which has become the norm in some states, dents the credibility of the authorities. The demand to verify the antecedents of ‘outsiders’ living in the state can be fraught with serious consequences and will only add fuel to the communal fire. Blessed with eye-catching beauty, Dev Bhoomi cannot afford to let religious tensions spoil its peaceful atmosphere, which is a major draw for domestic as well as foreign tourists.