Owaisi questions violation of SC order in Gujarat's demolition of Muslim religious places

The continuing demolition drive by the authorities in Dwarka, Gujarat, targeting Muslim religious places despite the Supreme Court prohibiting such demolitions without due process, has been criticised by AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who stated that the demolition is a brazen violation of the apex court's order.

Owaisi alleged that it was a targeted attack on Muslim places of worship and cemeteries, and he pointed out that these sites, including dargahs and burial grounds, were officially recognized in government records.

The demolition drive, which took place from January 18 to 25, focused on removing encroachments in various areas of Devbhoomi Dwarka district, and it involved the removal of structures that authorities deemed illegal. The Gujarat High Court is set to hear a petition filed by the Waqf Board on February 4, and the petition challenges the legality of the demolitions, which have attracted widespread attention.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi posted on social media about the operation, declaring that the seven islands of Dwarka district were now "100% encroachment-free," and he mentioned that 36 illegal structures had been removed in the process.

These structures, which were believed to have been erected over the past five to ten years, were located on islands that require prior permission for visitation, and Sanghavi commended the administration for its commitment to preserving cultural heritage.

Owaisi also linked the demolitions to the Modi government’s efforts to amend the Waqf Bill, suggesting that these amendments would weaken protections for Waqf properties, and he described the demolitions as highly condemnable in this context.