Haridwar: The ancient holy city of Haridwar has found itself at the centre of a fresh controversy after a mosque was allegedly constructed in the Jwalapur area without the necessary legal approvals by the Islamists. The mosque, built during the by-election for the Manglaur assembly seat, has raised significant concerns, with Hindu organisations accusing the Muslim community of expanding religious sites unlawfully in the heart of the sacred city. The situation has been further aggravated by the involvement of the Waqf Board, which protected the mosque’s construction after the local development authority attempted to intervene.
The Mosque Construction Controversy
The issue started when construction of the mosque began in the Jwalapur area of Haridwar during the Manglaur assembly bypoll, which had kept district authorities preoccupied with election duties. According to sources, the Muslim community took advantage of the administration’s focus on the election and began constructing the mosque in close proximity to Jwalapur Inter College.
What raised alarms was that the Haridwar Development Authority (HDA) had previously sealed the site, citing the Supreme Court’s directives on the construction of new religious structures. The Court mandates that any new religious building or renovation of an existing one must receive prior approval from the district administration or the local development authority. However, despite these clear instructions, the mosque construction continued after the seal was broken.
Videos of the mosque’s ongoing construction, despite official sealing, soon surfaced on social media, causing outrage among residents and Hindu groups. The Haridwar Development Authority eventually took notice and sought to take further action, planning to demolish the structure after the by-election results. However, before the HDA could proceed, the Wakf Board intervened and managed to halt the demolition efforts.
Supreme Court Directives Ignored
The Supreme Court has clear and stringent guidelines regarding the construction or renovation of religious sites. A district-level committee is tasked with overseeing such matters, and the High Court has been empowered to ensure compliance with these rules. In this instance, the directives were seemingly ignored, as the mosque was built without the necessary permits from either the district administration or the development authority. Additionally, no architectural plans were approved, making the construction illegal in the eyes of the law.
The sudden rise of a large mosque in the middle of Haridwar, a city considered sacred in Hinduism and home to millions of Hindu pilgrims, has raised serious questions. Local residents and Hindu organisations have asked how such a structure could have been built without being noticed by the authorities, especially in such a high-profile area next to an educational institution.
Allegations of Encroachment and Religious Conspiracy
This is not the first time that unauthorised religious structures have been built in Haridwar. In the past, Muslim communities have allegedly constructed illegal mazars (shrines) during major events such as the Kumbh Mela, but the district administration has often been hesitant to take action.
Haridwar’s municipal bylaws explicitly prohibit Muslims from staying overnight in the city or visiting sacred ghats (riverbanks), reflecting the special status the city holds in Hinduism. Yet, despite these rules, activists claim that government lands in Haridwar are being encroached upon and that religious sites, such as mosques, are being built without following legal procedures.
During the construction of this mosque, reports indicate that the mosque was extended right up to the road and the wall of Jwalapur Inter College, which raised even more concern. No permits were obtained, and local authorities were allegedly bypassed.
Hindu Organisations Express Outrage
Hindu groups have expressed strong opposition to the construction of the mosque. Anuj Walia, state coordinator of the Bajrang Dal, a prominent Hindu nationalist group, said, “We will not tolerate the expansion of religious sites in this holy city without proper approval from the authorities. Haridwar is a sacred city for Hindus, and non-Hindu groups are systematically building religious structures here, which the administration must stop.”
Walia further warned that if the authorities fail to take action, Hindu organizations would be forced to launch protests. He emphasized that it is the responsibility of the district administration and the Haridwar Development Authority to ensure that illegal structures are not allowed to come up in the city, especially ones that violate the sanctity of Haridwar as a pilgrimage destination.
Waqf Board’s Role and Its Implications
The situation escalated when the Waqf Board intervened to protect the mosque from demolition. The Board succeeded in getting a stay on the HDA’s planned action to demolish the building after the by-election results were declared on August 10. However, while the demolition was halted, the construction of the mosque continued unabated, with no restrictions placed on further development. This has led to questions about the Waqf Board’s influence and the ability of local authorities to enforce regulations impartially.
The Waqf Board’s involvement has further fueled the controversy, as many Hindu groups view it as a politically motivated move aimed at consolidating Muslim influence in the region. Critics have also raised concerns about the state government’s perceived leniency toward the Muslim community and its reluctance to take decisive action in such matters.
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