New Delhi (News Desk) – Under the rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the pace of attempts to seize mosques and sacred sites of Muslims in India has increased. Recently, a centuries-old historical mosque in the Indian state of Sambhal has come under threat from Hindu extremists.
According to foreign news agencies, the extremists have falsely claimed that the mosque was built over a temple and have taken the case to court to validate their assertion. In their attempt to seize the mosque, Hindu nationalists have subjected the Muslims guarding the mosque to extreme violence, resulting in the deaths of four worshippers.
Opposition leaders have strongly criticized Modi’s government over the attempted mosque takeover, calling it an act of religious intolerance. They argue that the move is not a religious issue but part of Modi’s political agenda to garner Hindu votes in upcoming elections by escalating the mosque dispute.
The controversy surrounding the mosque has led to rising religious tensions, with roads being blocked and increased tensions in the area. Human rights activist Sushita Mahajan has accused the Modi government and the RSS of manipulating history to perpetuate harmful traditions.
Mashood Ali Farooqi, a member of the mosque administration, has refuted the claim that the mosque was built on a temple, calling it false and baseless. He stated that they possess all the necessary documentation regarding the mosque’s construction, but they may have to wait 10 to 20 years for the case’s resolution.
Hindu nationalist Rakesh Kumar Jain has vowed to seize all mosques from Muslims, claiming full backing from the Modi government. Noted lawyer Shahrukh Alam stated that under Indian law, all citizens, including Muslims, are entitled to equal rights. According to the Indian Constitution, the status of places of worship cannot be changed. The ongoing attempts to convert Muslim places of worship into temples, Alam stated, highlight the lack of religious freedom in the world’s largest democracy under the rule of Hindu extremists.
