Demolition of at least 14 mosques, dargahs in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh draws Opposition criticism

The demolition of at least 14 mosques and dargahs in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh has sparked a political row, with Opposition leaders alleging selective targeting of Muslim places of worship.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Sunday that he had been informed by his party’s Bikaner unit that four masjids in the district, and nine mosques and dargahs in Rajasthan’s Phalodi, Jaisalmer and Barmer had also been demolished.

In Uttar Pradesh, the authorities last week demolished a mosque in Moradabad, alleging that it had been built illegally on gram sabha land. Separately, a notice was pasted on the wall of the Ganj Shahida mosque in Varanasi on June 12, alleging that it had been illegally constructed on railway land. The notice asked the mosque committee to vacate the premises by June 20, warning that the structure would be demolished, Maktoob Media reported.

Opposition leaders, including Congress’ Ashok Gehlot and Owaisi, have alleged that the demolitions disproportionately target Muslim religious sites.

Owaisi also alleged on social media that notices have been issued to hundreds of other religious sites, including the 250-year-old shrine of Hazrat Mahmood Shah Jilani in Jaisalmer.

“These demolitions are being justified on national security grounds,” the Hyderabad MP said. “However, none of the people in these areas have ever been...

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