AMN / NEWS DESK
A mosque located inside the District Magistrate’s office complex in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur was demolished in an overnight operation after the city administration declared it an illegal structure built on government land. The action has triggered a political controversy, with Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan alleging that she was placed under house arrest to prevent her from travelling to Saharanpur and raising the issue with officials.
Hasan, the Lok Sabha member from Kairana, said a large police contingent reached her residence while she was preparing to leave for Saharanpur. She said she intended to meet officials and discuss concerns raised by people in the area following the demolition.
Questioning the move, Hasan said elected representatives should be free to meet government officials on matters affecting their constituents. She argued that preventing an MP from raising public concerns was inconsistent with democratic principles.
Why Was the Mosque Demolished?
The demolition followed a complaint by Vikas Tyagi, a former provincial coordinator of the Bajrang Dal, who alleged that the mosque had been constructed illegally within the DM office premises.
The complaint also alleged that parts of the property were being used for commercial activities, including a post office and rooms rented to private individuals. It further claimed that the mosque committee was collecting rent from occupants.
Following proceedings on the matter, City Magistrate Kuldeep Singh ordered the immediate removal of the structure. The administration maintained that the construction amounted to encroachment on government land and that activities taking place on the premises raised concerns over the security and confidentiality of the district administration’s office.
A penalty of around ₹6.41 crore was also imposed on the occupants in connection with the alleged encroachment.
SP Questions Government Action
The Samajwadi Party criticised the Uttar Pradesh government over both the demolition and the alleged restrictions imposed on Hasan.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said maintaining communal harmony was among the government’s primary responsibilities. The party alleged that Hasan was stopped from travelling to Saharanpur because she wanted to raise the issue of the mosque’s demolition.
Hasan, meanwhile, questioned whether an elected MP could be prevented from meeting officials over matters concerning people in her constituency.
The episode comes amid a broader series of demolition drives in Uttar Pradesh involving religious structures that authorities have described as illegal constructions or encroachments on government land. Such actions have repeatedly drawn political opposition and legal scrutiny, particularly over whether authorities have complied with safeguards and due process before carrying out demolitions.