Islamabad (GNP): The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has asked the United States State Department to speak out against the planned removal of part of the Shahi Masjid in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, and to press New Delhi to safeguard the mosque and those who pray in it.
The American Muslim advocacy and civil rights organization also wants Indian authorities to brief Washington without delay and to explore options that would keep the structure and its religious use intact. Its National Executive Director, Nihad Awad, urged both the State Department and members of Congress to raise the matter in their dealings with India.
The appeal follows protests in Ujjain against the proposal, which forms part of a road-widening scheme ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh. Police fired tear gas after clashes, and stone-pelting was reported near the site.
Under the plan, Ujjain Municipal Corporation intends to widen the road to 15 metres, and sections of the mosque lie along the proposed alignment. The mosque is registered as Waqf property, and petitioners describe it as a historic place of worship that is centuries old.
On September 9, the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed petitions against the removal, holding that authorities had followed due legal process and pointing to traffic management and public safety needs before the gathering. It also observed that parts of other religious structures along the route had been taken down. At a further hearing on September 28, the parties reportedly agreed that no more than three feet would be removed from the affected section.
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CAIR said US officials should ask for a transparent review of alternatives to demolition and urge authorities to protect worshippers and allow peaceful protest without intimidation or excessive force. It also wants the wider protection of Muslim places of worship and Waqf properties included in US discussions with India, and it cited concerns previously raised by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) about conditions for minorities in India.
Indian authorities maintain that the work is meant to ease traffic and improve safety for the pilgrims expected at the Hindu festival, while mosque representatives and residents have sought alternatives that would spare the structure.
