Muslims offer to demolish illegal part of Sanjauli mosque, submit memo to MC

A delegation of the Muslim community today offered to demolish the illegal portion of the controversial mosque in Sanjauli here. The submission from the Muslim community came a day after several Hindu outfits held a massive protest in Sanjauli, demanding the demolition of the mosque.

“We have taken this initiative to restore peace and harmony in our state. We do not want our decades-old brotherhood and communal harmony to be affected,” said Latif Mohammed, president of the Sanjauli Masjid Committee.

The masjid committee and imams from all masjids in Shimla submitted a memorandum to the Shimla Municipal Corporation to defuse the communal tension. “We have proposed that the portion that the Muniicpal Corporation finds illegal should be sealed immediately. Besides, we have also submitted that, if allowed, we are ready to demolish the illegal portion ourselves,” said the imam of the Sanjauli masjid.

Will abide by court order

We have proposed that the portion which the Municipal Corporation finds illegal should be sealed immediately. Besides, we have also submitted that, if allowed, we are ready to demolish the illegal portion ourselves. And in case the matter is to be decided by the court, we will abide by its decision. —Imam of Sanjauli masjid

“And in case the matter is to be decided by the court, we will abide by its decision,” he added.

He said that they had no idea that the construction of the mosque would cause so much inconvenience to local residents that thousands of them would come out on the streets in protest. “If we had known this beforehand, we would have asked our people to stop construction,” he added.

Shimla Municipal Commissioner Bhupender Attri said the gesture from the Muslim community had paved the way for the early resolution of the vexed matter. The matter is pending in the MC court for the past 14 years and 45 hearings had been held so far.

Meanwhile, the state government hailed the Muslim delegation for its proposal. “They have set an example for the entire country by making such an offer to promote communal harmony. It’s a lesson for the parties and organisations that try to divide people,” said Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh.

The Muslim delegation said that the issue should not be politicised. “Let’s live together peacefully, like we have for so many decades,” said Latif.