The Federation of Maharashtra Muslims (FMM) has joined the condemnation of demolition of Saharanpur Collectorate Masjid by government authorities, calling the action illegal, unconstitutional, and an act of hostility toward Muslims.
In a statement, the Federation said the Uttar Pradesh government’s conduct reflected anti-Muslim bias, arguing that for an elected government to treat a large section of its own country’s population in this manner amounts to oppression, and that such behaviour is unbecoming of a constitutional government.
The FMMadded that this pattern of conduct, along with continuing attacks on mosques and alleged government involvement in them, risks alienating Muslims from the country’s legal and judicial institutions, and could heighten the danger of widespread unrest and even anarchy-like conditions in the country.
The FMM called the ‘oppressive, illegal’ demolition of the Saharanpur Masjid an act of open high-handedness intended to humiliate Muslims and to signal the status of the country’s largest minority in a free and democratic nation. It said that in today’s world, where governments claim to uphold the rule of law, the demolition of a mosque that had stood for 115 years, carried out under cover of night, was a deeply regrettable and cowardly act. It demanded that the UP government rebuild the mosque, and take steps to heal the wounds caused to the Muslim community.