Munish Sood
SHIMLA/MANDI: A year after tensions first flared over the Sanjauli mosque in Himachal Pradesh’s capital, the controversy resurfaced on Thursday (September 11, 2025) as Hindu groups staged a symbolic protest near the disputed site. The demonstrators performed a ritual ‘pind daan’ of the state Congress government, accusing it of inaction over the mosque demolition issue.
The protesters also warned the government of Nepal-style end if it failed to fulfil its pre-poll promises. Though the protest was small in scale, the event has once again highlighted the simmering discontent surrounding the mosque’s legal status, which remains tied up in court.
Limited police, controlled assembly
Eyewitnesses said there was no heavy security presence around the mosque itself. However, additional police personnel were deployed at Sanjauli police station as a precautionary measure. The authorities maintained that the situation in the area was peaceful.
Due to restrictions under the Disaster Management Act, the district administration permitted only 11 people to assemble. Members of the Dev Bhoomi Sangharsh Samiti accused officials of deliberately limiting their numbers to prevent the movement from gaining traction.
Samiti co-conveners Vijay Sharma and Madan Thakur said the ritual marked “half of the Sukhu government’s tenure and half-demolished mosque”. They argued that despite municipal orders, the Waqf Board had moved the court, slowing down the demolition process.
Thakur alleged that Hindu organizations were united and determined to continue their campaign against what he termed “anti-Sanatan forces”. He also warned of dire consequences if the government failed to resolve the issue promptly.
Dispute dating back to 2010
The mosque controversy is not new. In 2010, the municipal commissioner’s court had directed that the upper floors of the Sanjauli mosque be razed for violating building norms. Later, the entire structure was declared unauthorised, leading to a prolonged legal battle.
Last year, the matter escalated after a local clash triggered state-wide protests demanding the mosque’s demolition. The municipal corporation subsequently ordered its removal, but only one floor was torn down. The mosque committee itself began partial demolition work but abandoned it midway due to lack of funds. With the matter still under judicial consideration, both sides remain locked in confrontation.
The protest has drawn sharp criticism from Congress leaders. Senior party leader from Mandi Champa Thakur condemned the use of religious rituals for political messaging, calling it an insult to both faith and governance.
“It is shameful to use sacred ceremonies like shraddh for scoring political points. Such cheap theatrics malign the very Hindu religion these groups claim to defend,” she said, adding the Congress would strongly oppose any attempt to drag the Chief Minister into such “undignified conduct”.
