Protests in Shimla Over Alleged Illegal Mosque Construction
Police Use Water Cannons and Lathicharge to Disperse Protestors
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, September 11: Protests erupted in the Sanjauli area of Shimla over the alleged illegal construction of a mosque. Police used water cannons and lathicharge to disperse the protestors who were heading towards the area.
Protestors, including members of Hindu organizations, clashed with security forces after removing the first layer of barricading at the Dhalli Tunnel East portal. The protests were organized by Hindu groups against the alleged illegal construction of the Sanjauli mosque.
One protestor criticized the state government for using force, stating, “The Hindu community was on its way to Sanjauli for a peaceful protest, but the police of the Sukhu government used lathi-charge upon and dispersed us.”
Earlier, protestors gathered in the Dhalli area, displaying the tricolour and raising slogans. Heavy police forces were deployed at the Dhalli Tunnel East in Shimla to maintain order.
Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh emphasized that the protests should not disturb the peace and that the state government would take action if the mosque is found to be illegal. He stated, “The situation is very clear. Everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but there should not arise a situation which would affect the peaceful situation there.”
Media advisor to Himachal Pradesh CM Naresh Chauhan accused the BJP of trying to turn the issue into a Hindu-Muslim conflict, stating, “The BJP wants to make this a national issue, but the reality is that this is not a Hindu-Muslim issue. It is a law and order situation and the law will take its course.”
Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Assembly Jairam Thakur criticized the Sukhu government for delaying action against the alleged illegal construction.
Doubts Revealed
Shimla -: Shimla is a city in India, located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its beautiful hills and cool weather.
Mosque -: A mosque is a place where Muslims go to pray. It is similar to a temple for Hindus or a church for Christians.
Water Cannons -: Water cannons are large machines that spray water at high pressure. Police use them to control crowds during protests.
Lathicharge -: Lathicharge means the police use long sticks called lathis to push back or hit protestors to control them.
Hindu Organizations -: These are groups of people who follow the Hindu religion and work together for common goals.
Himachal Pradesh -: Himachal Pradesh is a state in northern India, known for its mountains and scenic beauty.
Minister Vikramaditya Singh -: He is a politician in Himachal Pradesh and a member of the state government.
Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan -: He is a person who gives advice to the government on how to communicate with the public and the media.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India.
Hindu-Muslim Conflict -: This refers to disagreements or fights between people who follow the Hindu religion and those who follow the Muslim religion.
Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur -: He is a politician who leads the group of people in the government who are not in power and often criticize the ruling party.
