Ujjain Shahi Masjid Row: Protesters Clash With Police Over Demolition For Road Widening

A large group of protesters clashed with police in Ujjain on Monday at the site where a portion of the Shahi Masjid has been proposed for demolition as part of a road-widening project ahead of the Simhastha 2028 fair.

Security remained heightened around the Shahi Masjid Complex following protests and stone-pelting amid opposition to the proposed removal of a portion of the mosque, news agency ANI reported.

Why Is The Ujjain Shahi Masjid Facing Demolition?

The dispute centres on a proposal to remove a portion of the Shahi Masjid as part of road-widening work in Ujjain ahead of the Simhastha 2028 religious fair.

A section of the mosque had already been demolished during the road-widening work. However, protests and objections emerged over the action, with local residents and others opposing the removal of the mosque portion.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday.

Protesters Clash With Police

Tensions remained high around the mosque complex as protesters attempted to move through nearby lanes towards the site.

Visuals from the area showed women among the protesters being pushed forward as the crowd attempted to proceed. Stones were also thrown at police personnel deployed in the area.

Police maintained a heavy presence around the Shahi Masjid Complex to prevent further escalation and maintain law and order.

Imran Pratapgarhi Opposes Demolition

Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi criticised the proposed demolition and urged the Madhya Pradesh government and local administration to take public sentiment into consideration.

Pratapgarhi said administrative action related to the mosque should be handled with greater sensitivity, particularly while the matter is before the court.

He questioned the need to remove a portion of what he described as a 600-year-old heritage site for road widening and suggested that authorities explore acquiring land from the other side of the road instead.

The Congress MP also questioned the administration’s repeated deployment of security around the mosque while the matter remains pending before the court.

He said thousands of young people in Ujjain were raising their voices over the issue and urged the administration to respect public sentiment.

Security Tightened In Ujjain

The latest clashes have added to tensions surrounding the road-widening project as authorities prepare the city for the Simhastha 2028 fair.

Police continued to remain deployed around the Shahi Masjid Complex following the protests and stone-pelting. The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s hearing on Monday is expected to be closely watched amid the ongoing dispute.