Rajasthan's Hindus, Muslims Speak with One Voice against Mosque Demolitions
Members of Hindu and Muslim communities held a rare joint protest in the western state of Rajasthan against the BJP government demolition campaign targeting mosques near the Pakistan border, calling for an immediate halt to the drive and warning that it threatens the region’s long-standing communal harmony.
According to The Hindustan Gazette, hundreds of people gathered outside the Barmer District Magistrate’s office for a “Sarv Dharm Shanti Sabha,” or interfaith peace assembly, where religious leaders, social activists, elected representatives and local residents stood together to oppose the demolitions.
Protesters later submitted a memorandum addressed to India’s president, urging authorities to suspend the campaign, follow Supreme Court directives and protect social harmony.
The demonstration comes amid mounting concern over “Operation Sweep,” a large anti-encroachment campaign launched by the Rajasthan administration and security agencies along the India-Pakistan border.
The operation has already resulted in the demolition of four mosques in Barmer district, while notices have been served to several others.
The scale of the campaign extends far beyond a single district. Nadeem Khan, secretary of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), said around 350 mosques have received demolition notices across the 1,050-kilometer India-Pakistan border belt spanning the districts of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Sri Ganganagar, all home to significant Muslim populations.
Authorities have described the operation as part of an effort to remove illegal encroachments and strengthen security infrastructure in the sensitive border region. However, activists and community leaders say that the rules are being applied selectively against Muslims and their religious sites.
Speaking to the local media, one of the protest organizers, Azad Singh Rathore, questioned the government’s approach, arguing that land ownership records remain unresolved across much of the border region.
He said nearly all land in the affected areas lacks proper identification, making it unfair to single out structures belonging to one community while leaving others untouched. Rathore called on authorities to regularize homes and religious buildings wherever legal provisions exist instead of carrying out demolitions.
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He also warned that the issue extends beyond mosques and temples, saying many residential homes could also face demolition, leaving families without shelter.
Residents of the border region, he added, have long endured difficult living conditions, including limited access to water, electricity and public services, while also bearing the burden of living on India’s frontline with Pakistan during periods of military tension.
Participants at the gathering emphasized that Barmer has historically been known for peaceful coexistence between religious communities and urged authorities to uphold constitutional protections, democratic rights and the tradition of resolving disputes through dialogue rather than coercive action.
Source: muslimnetwork.tv
