Owaisi accuses BJP of targeting mosques, graveyards for political gains
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Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting mosques, graveyards and houses for political gains.
Owaisi’s remarks came after a mosque inside the District Magistrate’s office complex in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur was demolished earlier on Saturday, a day after a District Judge’s court dismissed an appeal filed by the Muslim side against an earlier order declaring the structure illegal.
Addressing the media at the AIMIM headquarters in Darrussalaam, Hyderabad, Owaisi alleged that such actions undermine constitutional and legal protections.
“Muslims are being selectively targeted through demolition drives and other government action,” he alleged.
He questioned the use of bulldozers against properties while legal and court proceedings are still underway, arguing that due process must be followed before any demolition is carried out.
The Hyderabad MP said mosques, graveyards and houses are protected under various legal and constitutional provisions, and alleged that targeting them creates fear and insecurity among members of the Muslim community.
Owaisi also questioned whether demolition drives should be used as a political tool, particularly when property disputes are pending before courts. He stressed that governments must respect judicial proceedings and ensure equal protection under the law for every citizen.
He accused BJP-ruled states of demolishing mosques and graveyards to polarise voters along communal lines and called on state governments to uphold constitutional values, the rule of law and citizens’ rights irrespective of their religion.
The AIMIM chief said law enforcement and civic authorities should act strictly within the framework of the Constitution and existing laws. He added that disputes over the ownership or legality of structures should be resolved through established legal procedures rather than punitive demolition.