Himachal Pradesh: VHP bandh against ‘illegal’ mosques, influx of outsiders gets support from trader bodies

However, shops mostly remained closed in state capital’s Sunni where police had cordoned off a mosque with the protesters demanding its demolition alleging that the structure was illegal and stands on government land.

The protesters, including a sizeable number of women, were seen reciting Hanuman Chalisa during the bandh in Hamirpur and Chamba. In other parts of the state, religious slogans were raised during the protest march. In Palampur, some protesters overturned two unoccupied stalls in the market.

VHP office bearers said the protest was against the alleged illegal construction of a portion of a mosque in Shimla’s Sanjauli, encroachment on government land by another mosque in Mandi, and the police action — including lathi charge — on protesters in Shimla on Wednesday and use of water cannon on demonstrators in Mandi on Friday. They are also demanding a verification drive to identify the outsiders living in the state.

VHP state unit organizing secretary Tushar Dogra claimed that they gave the call for the bandh to protests use of force on people “who were demanding the demolition of mosque in Sanjauli in a peaceful manner”.

“The bandh call was supported by the traders and shopkeepers across the state. In Sanjauli, it is not a religious issue. It is only one of the aspects. VHP demands strict registration of all who are coming into Himachal Pradesh from other states. It is the need of the hour,” said Dogra, who is based in Bilaspur.

Ten people including four police personnel were injured in the clashes between the police and the protesters in Sanjauli and FIRs have been registered against 50 people by the police.

The Shimla police has released some photographs of suspects involved in stone pelting on the security personnel in Sanjauli. The photographs show some protesters carrying stones.

The VHP, meanwhile, offered free legal assistance to those booked by the police. Veer Bahadur Verma, state coordinator, VHP legal cell, said, “More than 15 people who were named in the FIRs are associated with the VHP.”
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader accused CM Sukhu of not respecting the public sentiments and said the government “is attempting to suppress the people’s democratic protests through brutality”.

“Instead of respecting public sentiments, the government is intent on crushing them. Why isn’t the government engaging in dialogue with the protesters to assure them of justice? Does illegal construction compel the government to the extent that instead of taking action against it, batons are used on the people? The Congress government should refrain from this dictatorial behaviour,” Thakur said.