Protests erupt over planned demolition of historic Ujjain mosque

Tensions flared in India’s Madhya Pradesh state after members of the Muslim community gathered to oppose the demolition of a portion of the historic Shahi Masjid in Ujjain for a road-widening project ahead of the Simhastha 2028 religious gathering.

The mosque’s imam says the Shahi Masjid dates back 636 years to 1390. The mosque is also registered as Waqf property, according to Indian media reports.

Hundreds of people gathered at the mosque and some remained there overnight as authorities prepared to remove the section falling within the proposed road alignment. Protesters have demanded that the religious structure be spared and that authorities consider an alternative alignment for the road.

Kashmir Media Service (KMS) reported that Muslims had resisted an attempt to carry out demolition work during the night in the presence of police and had decided to maintain a presence at the mosque in shifts to prevent its demolition.

Indian media reported Monday that the Ujjain Municipal Corporation began the process of removing the affected portion of the mosque, triggering clashes between protesters and police. Stones were allegedly thrown at security personnel, while police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The dispute centres on a roughly 900-metre road between Kanthal Chauraha and Gopal Mandir that authorities plan to widen to 15 metres as part of preparations for Simhastha 2028. Several religious structures fall within the road alignment, according to Indian media reports.

Petitioners opposing the project told the court that the proposed demolition would affect part of the mosque's prayer hall, a 120-foot minaret and Mazhar Chowk Shahi.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on September 9 dismissed two petitions challenging the Ujjain Municipal Corporation's decision. The court held that the civic authorities had followed the required procedure and rejected the contention that the mosque was being singled out because it was a religious structure. The mosque committee subsequently approached a Division Bench.

KMS described the action against the mosque as part of what it called the BJP government's policies targeting Muslim religious sites and alleged that Muslim places of worship and Waqf properties had increasingly faced demolition actions in BJP-ruled states.

KMS also cited the demolition of other mosques in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere in India as part of what it described as a broader campaign against Muslim religious properties.