Sangharsh Samiti activists warm against offering players at mosque

Members of Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, who are protesting against the mosque in Sanjauli for the past 10 days, have warned that they would not let Muslims offer prayers in the mosque on this Friday. The members today performed a ‘shashtra pooja’ in Sanjauli at the site of the protest, sending a message that they will not hesitate from using weapons, if instigated.

Samiti’s members have appealed the people belonging to Muslim community to cooperate and not to visit the said mosque to offer prayers so that communal harmony can be maintained.

Madan Thakur, co-convener of the samiti, said that despite the Shimla Municipal Corporation’s (SMC) Commissioner’s Court as well as the district Court declaring the mosque illegal and ordering it to be demolished, no action is being taken and prayers are being offered at the mosque which is unacceptable. “All we want is the structure to be sealed and demolished as directed by the court,” he said.

Thakur said as promised samiti is waiting for November 29 when talks will be held regarding the issue with the administration after which further action will be taken. “We will intensify our movement against the mosque if the talks scheduled for November do not yield any positive result,” he added.

Recently, the Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti activists went on an indefinite hunger strike outside Police Station, Sanjauli, as a case was registered against its members from stopping several Muslims from going to the mosque to offer prayers. Last Friday, the Samiti had planned a massive protest which was called off after talks with the administration. They also called off the indefinite hunger strike but started a chain hunger strike which continues to go on.