Now agitation against mosque at Berinag in Pithoragarh

Now agitation against mosque at Berinag in Pithoragarh

B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, Nov 9

Demanding removal of a mosque, situated reportedly in residential building of Berinag townof Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, the volunteers of Rashtriya Sewa Sangh, a Hindu outfit owing allegiance to ruling BJP/RSS ley by its president Himanshu Joshi, held a ‘dharna’ (sit in) at Ganesh chowk of Berinag, today.

“We have started our ‘dharna’ in support of our demands with a large number of our workers despite police stopping them at different entry points,” claimed Himanshu Joshi, president of Rashtriya Sewa Sangh, a Hindu outfit.

In order to maintain law and order in the town, police a day before imposed the provisions of section 163 of BNS in the town and held a flag march.”Keeping in mind any possible eventuality, we have also called extra force after the said person Himanshu Joshi gave notice of sitting on a ‘dharna’ in Berinag. We have taken cognizance of situation and deputed police force there. The situation is normal and the agitators have been given a place to sit as they have demanded,” said Rekha Yadav, SP, Pithoragarh.

Shreshth Gunsola, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Berinag said that the administration has given permission of holding peaceful protest to the workers of the said organisation. The procession could be taken between Ganesh Chowk and Tehsil ground. We have imposed condition of peaceful protest that includes ban on shouting communal slogans,” SDM said.

After several incidents targeting the minority Muslim community by right wing Hindu organisations in Uttarakhand hills, these groups have targeted a house which was being used by the minuscule Muslims community for offering prayers in Berinag town of Pithoragarh district.

Himanshu Joshi, president of Rashtriya Sewa Sangathan had met Pithoragarh District Magistrate on September 17, and demanded removal of the mosque from the house. The organisation has also staged a ‘Dharna’ before SDM’s office on October 6, demanding removal of the mosque.

Pithoragarh district administration is investigating into  the allegations of a Hindu outfit, Rashtriya Sewa Sangthan, of any illegal activities being carried from a mosque allegedly made in a old house in Berinag.

According to locals, the old house, owned by one Azim is being used by local Muslim population for offering Namaz by over 100 families of Muslim community  from last 25 years. “After Azim has left the house to settle in Haldwani, the house is being regularly used by community members for offering Namaz and to run a Madrasa,” said a local resident of Berinag.

Some people had also gone to court to stop the mosque from functioning from that house but after court had stayed their petition the  offering on Namaz there  continued.

According to Joshi, the concerned individual of the community had put the case in CM’s portal that has declared the land as non-certified. “All evidences show that the said mosque is illegal and we demand that mosque should be removed,” demanded Joshi.