Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday endorsed the protests by Hindus in Shimla, who are opposing what they claim is an illegal mosque in the Sanjauli area.
Singh commended the unity of the Hindu community and advocated for similar protests across India to tackle unauthorized constructions, especially mosques.
Addressing the issue, Singh praised the protesters for standing firm against the Waqf Board, which is accused of unlawfully occupying land.
“The Hindus in Himachal Pradesh have shown what unity can achieve. The Shimla model should be adopted nationwide to ensure no one can take our land,” Singh remarked.
He further alleged that there are “three lakh illegal mosques” across India, warning that these could become centers for militancy.
Singh’s remarks came as demonstrations in Shimla turned tense, with clashes erupting between protestors and police over the removal of a disputed portion of the mosque in Sanjauli.
Carrying national flags and chanting slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” the demonstrators called for police verification of minorities, claiming the presence of illegal immigrants, including Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, in the state.
Following the unrest, Himachal Pradesh Ministers Anirudh Singh and Vikramaditya Singh announced that mosque authorities had agreed to seal the allegedly illegal portion of the building to preserve communal peace.