Pune Municipal Corporation takes bulldozer action against illegal mosque and madarasa

Representational image (Credits : Times of India)

Pune – Action has been taken against an illegal mosque and a madarasa in Pune using bulldozers. The Municipal Corporation has taken this action after the High Court ordered that all illegal religious places in Pimpri-Chinchwad be demolished. 6 months ago, the Municipal Corporation had sent notices to all such illegal places of worship; but they were ignored. Hence, the Municipal Corporation has started this action. There is a strong opposition from the Muslims to the bulldozer action against the mosque and the madarasa. Muslims had gathered in large numbers to save this mosque. The administration had deployed large Police force to avoid any untoward incident from happening.

During the operation, the Police also arrested some Muslim leaders. They were released at 5 a.m. The demolished mosque is in Pimpri-Chinchwad, which is adjacent to Pune. It was built here about 25 years ago; but for the last few years, a madarasa is being run here in the name of Darul Uloom Jamia at Amia. Hindu organisations had complained against this. In this action, the madarasa has been completely razed to the ground and a part of the mosque, which was illegal construction, has also been demolished.

Asaduddin Owaisi upset

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that only the mosque is being demolished in Pune. Thousands of houses around the mosque are also illegal. No action is taken on it. Why such discrimination ? (Owaisi obviously means that the illegal mosque should not have been demolished. On the contrary, Owaisi should have reprimanded his religious brethren who built illegal mosque and praised the municipality – Editor).