Saharanpur mosque demolition sparks outcry; oppn vow to move HC

A political row erupted on Saturday over the demolition of a mosque inside the Saharanpur collectorate complex, with opposition leaders alleging that the action was politically motivated and could disturb communal harmony, while the state government maintained that the structure was removed in compliance with a court order.

In a post on X, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, without directly referring to the demolition, "Let the BJP commit as much injustice as it wants... using the shield of law to perpetrate illegal acts may hold for a while, but it cannot last forever."

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that the mosque predated 1947 and was registered with the Waqf Board, alleging that it was demolished without making the Waqf Board a party to the proceedings. He accused the government of "spreading hatred" ahead of elections.

Kairana MP Iqra Hasan also condemned the action. She claimed the mosque had been sealed and the area barricaded after the local court order and the administration did not provide sufficient time to seek relief from the High Court.

Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad alleged that officials had assured him around midnight that the mosque would not be demolished, but the structure was razed hours later. Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the Nagina MP said religious rights must be protected and announced that his party would challenge the matter in court.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani also condemned the demolition, questioning whether the Constitution and law were being applied equally to citizens and religious communities. He said the issue concerned the supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, religious freedom and equality, and alleged that the mosque was registered with the Waqf Board.

Congress leaders also criticised the action. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai described the demolition as "extremely heartbreaking and shameful", saying "politics of hate and division" weakens social harmony and brotherhood.

Terming the demolition order "unconstitutional," Saharanpur Samajwadi Party MP Imran Masood alleged that relevant documents had been ignored and said he and his associates would approach the High Court. He also questioned the decision to demolish the structure soon after the district court rejected the mosque committee's appeal on September 2.

The district administration, however, said the mosque had been declared illegal by the city magistrate following a petition filed by Bajrang Dal regional convener Vikas Tyagi in 2025. The mosque management committee challenged the order in the district court, which rejected its appeal on September 2, paving the way for demolition.

The demolition was carried out amid heavy deployment of police, PAC and RAF personnel, with all five entrances to the collectorate closed and public entry restricted. Uttar Pradesh Minority Welfare Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar said the action was carried out in accordance with the court order.