Protests Erupt Over Mosque Demolition for Road Widening in Ujjain

Protests erupted in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, as plans to demolish a portion of the historic Shahi Masjid for road widening sparked unrest. The situation escalated on Monday, with protesters involved in stone-pelting and police responding with tear gas and lathi charges to disperse the crowd. The Ujjain Municipal Corporation informed the mosque committee on 14 August about the required demolition, claiming it obstructed a road-widening project scheduled for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2028. In a legal challenge, the mosque committee argued that the notices were arbitrary and unconstitutional on 2 September, but the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed this claim as meritless, allowing the municipal corporation to proceed. As tensions rose, police deployed barricading around the area to maintain order. On Monday, some community members congregated near the mosque, protesting the demolition, leading to several arrests. Ujjain Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma reported that officers intervened swiftly against those attempting to incite violence. In a statement, he noted, 'Various communities and organisations have been consistently cooperating with the road-widening project. Today, the mosque committee itself is voluntarily demolishing the section of the Shahi Masjid at Chhatri Chowk that falls within the widening zone.' The municipal corporation's actions were justified as part of a broader development plan, with the court finding that procedures had been followed appropriately, stating that the affected parties were given ample opportunity to voice objections. Critics of the demolition, however, argued that the mosque, being a religious site, was being singled out for treatment different from other structures within the road-widening plans. The mosque committee also raised concerns that the demolition would impact significant parts of the mosque, including the prayer hall, a notable minaret, and additional adjacent structures. Despite these claims, the court upheld the corporation's approach, ruling that the removal was not discriminatory in nature, as highlighted by the official statement of the municipal corporation which noted the removal of several other religious structures under similar circumstances. As the situation in Ujjain unfolds, local leaders, including Ujjain City Qazi Khaliqur Rahman, called for calm, urging community cooperation as development efforts continue.