Muslims protest planned demolition of ‘600-year-old’ mosque in India
News Source
•Sun, 27 Sep 2026 16:37:59 +0000
📰 What Happened
Hundreds of Muslims gathered in the Indian city of Ujjain to protest the partial demolition of a mosque. They say the building is more than 600 years old. The state government, led by the BJP, says the work is needed to widen roads.
Officials say the road project is for a major Hindu pilgrimage in 2028. That event is expected to bring huge crowds. Protesters say the mosque should be protected as a historic site.
🔍 The Backstory
India has seen growing disputes over old mosques and other Muslim buildings. In recent years, courts have heard cases asking to remove structures near Hindu temples. Some of those cases led to unrest.
The government says it is only planning for the pilgrimage. Muslim groups say their places of worship are being targeted and that they are rarely consulted.
🎯 Why It Matters
These disputes affect trust between religious communities. When historic buildings are demolished, it can deepen divisions in a country of many faiths.
Hundreds of Muslims gathered in the Indian city of Ujjain to protest the partial demolition of a mosque. They say the building is more than 600 years old. The state government, led by the BJP, says the work is needed to widen roads.
Officials say the road project is for a major Hindu pilgrimage in 2028. That event is expected to bring huge crowds. Protesters say the mosque should be protected as a historic site.
India has seen growing disputes over old mosques and other Muslim buildings. In recent years, courts have heard cases asking to remove structures near Hindu temples. Some of those cases led to unrest.
The government says it is only planning for the pilgrimage. Muslim groups say their places of worship are being targeted and that they are rarely consulted.
These disputes affect trust between religious communities. When historic buildings are demolished, it can deepen divisions in a country of many faiths.