If govt is going to take action, then lock up courts: Iqra Hasan condemns Saharanpur mosque demolition

Shamli: Samajwadi Party (SP) MP, Iqra Hasan on Saturday condemned the demolition of an illegal mosque at the Saharanpur Collectorate, calling the action “shameful” and accusing the authorities of ignoring legal provisions. She added that if the “government is going to take action like this, then lock up the courts of the country.”

Speaking to IANS, the Kairana MP said the mosque was an old religious structure and alleged that the authorities proceeded with its demolition without adequately considering applicable legal provisions, including the Places of Worship Act and the concept of “Waqf by User”.

“We were stopped from going to Saharanpur so that such action could be taken. The police demolished our mosque like thieves without following the law and order of our country. They should be ashamed because we believed that they would remain neutral. But the way they followed the orders of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is really shameful,” Hasan said.

She further alleged that the structure predated 1947 and questioned why the relevant legal provisions were not considered before the demolition.

“The mosque is old because it was made before 1947. So, according to that, the Places of Worship Act applies to it, and also Waqf by User. But they ignored all these things and bulldozed it. It is a mockery of law and order. If the government is going to take action like this, then lock up the courts of the country,” she told IANS.

Hasan said she received information late on Friday night that the mosque at the Collectorate had been sealed, following which she and others decided to reach Saharanpur and speak to the authorities.

“Late last night, we received information that the issue regarding the Collectorate mosque was unfolding and that it had been sealed. All our people believed that we should reach there and speak to the authorities, as everyone suspected that something had gone wrong,” she said.

However, she alleged that a large police force was deployed outside her residence and prevented her from leaving. “Even now, the force remains deployed there. This is throttling our Constitution; it is tearing the Constitution to shreds,” Hasan said.

She alleged that the demolition reflected a dangerous trend in which places of worship were being targeted for political gains.

“This is the state of our country’s democracy — falling to a level where someone’s place of worship is being demolished today solely and purely for political gains,” she said.

Hasan said she had spoken to the party leadership, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, and that the party’s legal team was exploring possible legal remedies.

“Yes, I spoke to Lucknow, and we informed Akhilesh Ji and all the leaders of the party. We also spoke with the party’s legal counsel, and a way out was being sought, but no time was given,” she said.

Questioning the haste with which the action was carried out, Hasan said even people convicted of serious crimes are provided opportunities to challenge judicial decisions.

“A judgment came the day before yesterday, and you acted in just a single night without giving time,” she said.

Hasan also claimed that the verdict did not adequately address the mosque or the applicability of the Places of Worship Act.

“The verdict that was delivered was not given keeping the mosque in mind; there is no mention of the Places of Worship Act in it,” she said.

She added that the legal system provides individuals the right to appeal, noting that even convicts can challenge judgments before higher courts. “Decades-old civil disputes continue in the courts, yet here, you did not even give a day’s time in the case of a mosque, a religious place,” Hasan said.

IANS