A delegation from the Himachal Congress Minority Morcha met with senior party leaders on Thursday to address concerns over rising tensions in the state linked to demonstrations near mosques and perceived targeting of the Muslim community.
The delegation, led by Iqbal Mohammad, President of the Himachal Congress Minority Morcha, included several mosque imams and visited New Delhi to meet with Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal and Minority Morcha National President Imran Pratapgarhi.
In their meeting, the delegation highlighted the growing atmosphere of fear and tension in Himachal Pradesh, citing recent protests by Hindu groups outside mosques. The state Congress Minority Morcha expressed concerns that these demonstrations were intended to disrupt communal harmony and instill fear among the Muslim population.
The statement issued by the Minority Morcha noted that while Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is striving to foster unity among all religious communities, certain elements are reportedly trying to undermine this effort and tarnish the government’s image.
Venugopal reportedly spoke with Chief Minister Sukhu over the phone to discuss the escalating situation. Last week, violence erupted during a protest in Shimla’s Sanjauli area, where ten people were injured amid calls to demolish a portion of a mosque. In Mandi, police had to use water cannons on demonstrators demanding the removal of an unauthorized section of a mosque.
Recent developments include a memorandum submitted by residents of Kasumpti in Shimla, calling for the demolition of a local mosque, and similar demands emerging from other areas in the state. Additionally, a dispute in the Malyana area, involving a barber from the minority community and a local businessman, has sparked broader communal tensions. Hindu groups have since been advocating for the demolition of unauthorized mosques and increased scrutiny of outsiders in the state.
(With inputs from PTI)
