Ujjain, September 28 (Daily Kiran) : In Ujjain, a city known for its religious significance, tensions erupted over plans to demolish part of the Shahi Mosque. This decision follows a clash related to road widening in preparation for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in 2028. The Muslim community has now expressed its willingness to remove the proposed section of the mosque.
The situation escalated when a crowd threw stones at the police, prompting officers to respond with tear gas. One female police officer sustained an injury to her hand during the unrest, which lasted for about two hours. Authorities have registered cases against ten individuals involved in the stone-throwing and have begun detaining suspects.
With an estimated 40 crore devotees expected to attend the Kumbh Mela, the local government is focused on improving traffic flow by widening narrow roads. This includes expanding the road from Kanthal Chowk to Gopal Mandir by 15 meters, which necessitates the removal of a section of the mosque. The area in question was covered with green cloth, and women from the community protested by sitting on the road, disrupting traffic.
As police attempted to disperse the crowd, clashes broke out, leading to the use of tear gas. Despite the tensions, the Muslim community has now agreed to the demolition, hoping to facilitate the road expansion. Local residents in other parts of Ujjain have also voluntarily demolished sections of their homes to aid in the road widening efforts.
The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, has been personally involved in the road expansion project, even using a pickaxe on Sunday to initiate demolition work near his ancestral home. The emotional atmosphere surrounding the project highlights the community’s complex relationship with the ongoing changes in Ujjain as it prepares for the massive religious gathering.
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