Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Congress Leader Slams BJP Over Religion, Saharanpur Mosque Demolition
Rashid Alvi, a Congress leader, criticised the BJP over the use of religion in politics.
He said religious feelings were being used to influence voters.
He also criticised the demolition of a mosque in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
The mosque stood inside the local Collectorate campus.
Court proceedings found that the structure occupied government land and was unauthorised.
A magistrate ordered its eviction, and a district court later upheld that decision.
Alvi questioned whether the demolition followed the Places of Worship Act.
He also connected a spiritual film called Hanuman Ansh to wider political use of religious feelings.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi accused the BJP of using religion to influence voters.
Alvi criticised the demolition of a mosque inside Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur Collectorate campus.
He linked the spiritual film Hanuman Ansh to what he described as broader religious influence efforts.
The mosque demolition followed court findings that the structure occupied 315 square metres of government land.
A July 16 eviction order was upheld on appeal, while a September 2 order did not specifically mention demolition.
- Who
- Congress leader Rashid Alvi criticised the BJP and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the issue.
- What
- Alvi accused the BJP of using religion for political gains and objected to the demolition of a mosque in Saharanpur.
- When
- Alvi made the remarks on Sunday; the mosque was demolished on Saturday morning. The cited court orders were dated July 16 and September 2.
- Where
- The demolition occurred at the Saharanpur Collectorate campus in Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Why
- Alvi alleged that religious sentiments were being used to influence voters and described the demolition as politically motivated; court proceedings cited occupation of government land as the legal basis for eviction.
- Speaker
- Rashid Alvi, a Congress leader
- Political party criticised
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
- Location
- Saharanpur Collectorate campus, Uttar Pradesh
- Land area cited by court
- 315 square metres of government land
- Eviction law
- Uttar Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1972
- Relevant national law
- Places of Worship Act, 1991
- Film mentioned
- Hanuman Ansh, written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi