On December 1, several Hindu organisations organised a “Uttarkashi Maha Panchayat” in Uttarakhand, demanding the demolition of illegal mosques that they claim were built decades ago. The groups argued that these mosques were constructed unlawfully on “God’s land” (Devbhoomi) and should be removed. They also called for unity among people to combat issues such as “love jihad” and “land jihad.”
Reports indicate that several speakers at the Uttarkashi Maha Panchayat, including BJP leader T Raja Singh, urged the state’s Chief Minister to address the concerns of the Hindu community. They proposed that the state adopt a similar approach to Uttar Pradesh and carry out bulldozer action against illegal structures.
T Raja Singh was quoted as saying, “Chief Minister Dhami should have a ‘chai pe charcha’ with Yogi Adityanath. Just as Yogi ji takes strong action against ‘land jihadis’ in Uttar Pradesh, Dhami must also bring bulldozers into action. We will not allow jihadis to carry out land jihad in Uttarakhand. Hindus across the country are looking to the people of Uttarakhand to set an example.”
आज उत्तरकाशी में आयोजित हिंदू महापंचायत में हजारों की संख्या में पधारे हिंदू पहाड़ी भाई-बहनों को संबोधित किया।
हमें 25 लाख घुसपैठियों को एकजुट होकर देवभूमि उत्तराखंड से बाहर निकालना है।#Uttarakhand #Uttarkashi pic.twitter.com/tXrAFFbb8X
— Raja Singh (@TigerRajaSingh) December 1, 2024
Meanwhile, Gangotri MLA Suresh Singh Chauhan also spoke at the gathering, emphasising the importance of preserving the town’s religious character. He called for a ban on meat, eggs, and liquor in the state, stating, “Some are trying to disturb the sanctity of this religious town, but we will not allow them to succeed. Uttarkashi is home to important temples and is the center of our faith. There will be no shops selling meat, eggs, or liquor here,” he asserted.
According to reports, around 500 people participated in the event organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), which announced plans for another Maha Panchayat in the future. “This is just the beginning of our struggle. We will uproot these forces from Uttarakhand,” said Anuj Walia of VHP, urging for district-wide protests.
The event follows claims made by Hindu groups on September 9, asserting that mosques in the state were illegally constructed. However, investigations into the matter revealed that the land on which the mosques were built belonged to Muslims. Subsequently, on October 24, large-scale protests erupted in the region, leading to clashes between the police and the demonstrators.
The Maha Panchayat was held after the district administration imposed several conditions on the organisers. They were instructed not to make hate speeches, incite religious sentiments, hold rallies, and ensure peace during the event. The organisers complied with all these conditions while conducting the gathering.
