Shimla, May, 5: Former Union minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Waqf Board, alleging a pattern of land encroachments without documentation, after a Shimla court ordered the demolition of the Sanjauli mosque.
“The Sanjauli mosque is just one of thousands of examples where the Waqf Board has taken illegal possession of land without valid papers,” Thakur told reporters at the Kangra airport. “Kabza jamayange, sansani failayenge, par kagaz nahin dikhayenge — they take possession, create sensation but don’t show papers. This has become their mindset,” he said.
The mosque, located in Sanjauli in Himachal Pradesh’s capital, has been at the center of a years-long dispute. On Saturday, the Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s Court declared all five stories of the structure unauthorised and ordered the entire building to be demolished, according to advocate Jagat Pal, who represented local petitioners.
Thakur, who is also the sitting MP from Hamirpur, said the court’s ruling vindicated concerns raised by locals and added that the Waqf Board had failed to present any ownership documents or sanctioned building plans. “They could not produce even basic paperwork to prove their legal claim to the land or the structure,” he said.
The controversy dates back over 15 years, when residents of Sanjauli along with several Hindu organisations began protesting the mosque’s construction, claiming it was illegal. Despite repeated representations, no official action was taken until recent court proceedings.
Initially, on Oct. 5, 2024, the court had directed the demolition of the top three floors, labelling them unauthorised. It also directed the Waqf Board to submit documents proving that the lower two floors had sanctioned plans. However, the Board failed to do so within the stipulated time, leading the court to expand the order to the entire structure.
Advocate Jagat Pal said, “The Board was unable to furnish documents establishing either land ownership or the legality of construction. The court had no option but to issue a comprehensive demolition order.”
Thakur’s remarks come amid heightened political debate over religious properties and land ownership, with the BJP often accusing the Waqf Board of irregularities. Monday’s statement added fuel to the controversy, as the demolition order moves closer to implementation.
