The Muslim community of Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi has asked the district administration and police to ensure peace amid a Hindu organisations’ call for a “mahapanchayat (grand assembly)” on December 1 against a five decade-old mosque.
Members of the community on Saturday submitted a memorandum to district magistrate Meharban Singh Bisht and police superintendent Amit Srivastava seeking action against Hindu groups for allegedly spreading lies about the mosque.
Halim Baig, a lawyer, said they have all the documents to prove the mosque’s legality. “Some Hindu outfit leaders spread lies about the mosque and said illegal activities take place there. We have also sought action against them.”
The Hindu outfits on November 7 announced the mahapanchayat after chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami asked the district administration to re-examine records of the mosque.
State Vishva Hindu Parishad chief Anuj Walia insisted the mosque is illegal. “They have claimed that it is a property of the Waqf Board. Then why is there a registry in the name of individuals? The property’s mutation was done in 2005 and it has been shown as plots. It clarifies that there was no structure there until 2005,” he said. He added they met the district administration for the re-examination of the records.
This story was originally published in hindustantimes.com. Read the full story here.