Hundreds of Muslims are maintaining an overnight vigil around the historic Shahi Mosque in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, to prevent authorities from demolishing part of it. Local worshippers are spending nights inside and outside the mosque. Residents said bulldozers were stationed outside but demolition had not begun because of the large crowd.
Residents said attendance continued to grow Sunday night. Muslims from the area have occupied the mosque for several weeks amid fears of eviction and partial demolition, saying peaceful presence was their only immediate way to protect it.
Indore cleric Mufti Junaid said Muslims gathered after authorities tried to proceed with partial demolition while the dispute remained unresolved. He said many other old mosques in Ujjain could face similar risks.
He claimed that demolition of this mosque would place another 28 mosques on the same list and make them targets, arguing that mosques could not be removed one after another simply because they stood in the path of a project.
Mufti Junaid said it was unacceptable to erase another faith’s place of worship while improving facilities for a religious site. He alleged that several old mosques were at risk under plans to redesign Ujjain ahead of a major Hindu pilgrimage.
A road expansion project is planned before the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh fair. It would widen about 730 meters of road between Khajur Wali Mosque and Ganesh Chowk to 15 meters. The project is expected to affect 272 structures.
Proposed removals at the Shahi Mosque include part of the prayer hall, a minaret about 120 feet high and an area known as Mazar Chowk Shahi. The Muslim side says these are part of the mosque’s historic and religious structure and that even partial removal would damage its identity and heritage.
The dispute is also before the courts. The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently rejected two petitions challenging demolition notices issued by the Ujjain Municipal Corporation. Justice Sandeep N Bhatt said the proposed action followed applicable laws and that mosque managers had been given an opportunity to present their case.
The ruling therefore treated the proposed municipal action as consistent with legal procedure, but the Muslim side has not accepted the decision.
Lawyer Zayed Pathan of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights said the Numainda Committee had begun the process of approaching the Supreme Court through its counsel to challenge the High Court ruling.
He said Muslims were staying inside the mosque by collective decision to protest the proposed demolition and protect the building. They believed maintaining a presence there was currently one way to prevent removal.
The dispute centers on urban development and protection of a religious site. Authorities say the road around Mahakaleshwar Temple must be widened to ease pilgrim movement for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh. Muslims say alternatives should be considered to avoid damaging religious and historic structures.
Tensions remain high with bulldozers outside and worshippers inside. What happens next will depend largely on the Supreme Court challenge and the authorities’ response, which will determine whether the disputed parts of the historic mosque are ultimately removed.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report