Protests erupted in India as authorities demolished Jahangirpuri mosque
Protests erupted in India as authorities demolished Jahangirpuri mosque
On June 27, 2024, protests erupted in Delhi, India after authorities demolished parts of the historic Jahangirpuri mosque.
The demolition was carried out by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) based on allegations that the mosque had encroached on public land.
The demolition was part of a broader crackdown on religious sites across India in recent months. Over the past month alone, several other mosques, temples and churches have been bulldozed in various states after being ruled illegal by local authorities.
The Jahangirpuri mosque demolition sparked outrage among Muslim residents and community leaders. Protesters gathered at the site, chanting slogans and demanding that the partially destroyed mosque be rebuilt. Police were deployed to control the crowds, with some protesters being detained.
Critics accused authorities of selectively targeting Muslim places of worship under the pretext of removing illegal structures. They argued that the demolitions were part of a larger pattern of harassment and marginalization of India’s Muslim minority under the Hindu nationalist government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The demolition also highlighted the vulnerability of religious minorities in India, where they increasingly face discrimination, hate crimes and the threat of violence from Hindu extremist groups emboldened by the ruling party’s policies.
As protests continued, Muslim leaders called for the Supreme Court to intervene and halt the demolitions. They argued that the structures were being demolished without due process and that the move violated the constitutional rights of religious minorities.
The Jahangirpuri incident underscored the growing religious tensions and polarization in India, where the rights and safety of Muslims and other minorities have come under increasing threat in recent years.
The demolitions sparked fears of further unrest and violence between Hindu and Muslim communities across the country.
Continue reading: 193 Charged in $2.7 Billion Scam in Healthcare Fraud Scheme
