Shalimar Bagh, September 23 (Daily Kiran) : In Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, a significant demolition operation took place late at night on September 23, aimed at clearing illegal encroachments along Max Hospital Road. This action involved the Madina Mosque and several nearby homes, raising tensions in the community.
As news of the demolition spread, local leaders reacted swiftly. Shoaib Jamai, the Delhi president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), arrived at the scene around 11:30 PM. He met with residents, condemning the operation as unconstitutional.
Imam Zarifur Rahman of the Madina Mosque questioned the authorities’ claims, asserting, “This mosque is being labeled illegal, but the reality is that nearly every home in Shalimar is built on a General Power of Attorney (GPA). The entire area is established on this basis, yet only the mosque is deemed unlawful. This is discriminatory.”
The Imam explained that they had presented their case in court through their lawyer. After filing necessary documents, the court issued a notice to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). However, the MCD summoned them for a hearing, only to issue a notice the following day, demanding the mosque be removed within 15 days, or face demolition. They subsequently returned to court but only received a stay for the ground floor; no relief was granted for the upper levels.
Mowin Khan, president of the mosque, elaborated on the legal proceedings. “On our lawyer’s advice, we filed a new petition requesting clear copies of documents from the MCD to prepare an accurate response. Yet, the MCD issued three consecutive notices threatening demolition within 15 days,” he said.
Khan further detailed that they took the matter to an appellate tribunal. During the first hearing on the 15th, the tribunal acknowledged the floor with the electricity meter but classified the rest as new construction. Despite presenting evidence that the three floors were built in 2001, the judge disregarded their arguments and allowed for the demolition of the upper levels.
AIMIM has linked the demolition to religious sentiments, with Jamai alleging serious misconduct by the administration. He stated, “We received a message from our party leader Asaduddin Owaisi around 11:30 PM about the incident in Shalimar Bagh. I immediately dispatched our local team to assess the situation.”
Jamai accused the authorities of conducting the demolition under the cover of darkness, with all lights in the area turned off. He claimed that mosque officials and local residents were not given time to remove the Quran and other religious texts. “This is an extreme injustice. Conducting such actions in the capital without informing anyone is utterly shameful,” he added.
Jamai also criticized Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, questioning her silence during these events. “Isn’t Shalimar Bagh your area? When bulldozers were used against our Hindu brothers’ homes, we raised our voices. Now, as bulldozers target the mosque, we are speaking out again. We do not discriminate. But the Chief Minister’s area is under siege at her command. To operate bulldozers in the dark is a display of arrogance that will backfire,” he stated.
He further questioned the urgency of the situation, asking, “What emergency warranted a midnight demolition? Why was there no time to remove the Quran or other religious texts? We received calls from local AIMIM leaders and Owaisi, prompting our team to gather immediately. Such oppression in the capital at midnight is completely unacceptable.”
Tensions remain high as the community grapples with the aftermath of the demolition and the implications for local religious freedoms.
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