NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are facing growing political, domestic, and international backlash after authorities demolished a more than century-old mosque inside the Saharanpur Collectorate complex in Uttar Pradesh.
The mosque was demolished in the early hours of September 5. Authorities said the action was carried out in accordance with a district court order and under tight security.
The mosque committee and opposition leaders have rejected the authorities’ account. They say the mosque building had stood at the site for over 120 years and that the demolition was carried out without adequate legal process.
The BJP government is systematically eroding Muslim identity, historical heritage and religious values and institutions, analysts said. According to analysts, 860 mosques, shrines, madrasas and Eidgahs have been demolished across India over the past three years.
The demolition of the 120-year-old mosque in Saharanpur, the 700-year-old Akhunji Mosque in Mehrauli and the 200-year-old Uzghib Shaheed Mosque in Varanasi are examples of the use of blind laws to target Muslim religious sites, analysts said.
Also Read: More Than Century-Old Mosque Demolished in Suharanpur, Triggering Anger among Muslims
Analysts also pointed to the 1,000-year-old Ganj Shaheed Mosque, which has received a demolition notice despite protests from members of the Muslim community.
They alleged that such actions have been concentrated in states governed by the BJP and described them as part of a wider pattern of measures targeting Muslim religious and cultural heritage.
Opposition Congress MP Imran Masood said revenue records showed the land had been registered in the names of Yaqub Khan and Waheed Khan, whom he identified as the owners of the estate where the mosque was built. He also questioned why the Waqf Board had not been made a party to the proceedings.
‘बुलडोजर मस्जिद पर नहीं कानून पर चला है। ये संविधान, कानून पर बुलडोजर चला रहे हैं। 70 साल से बनी मस्जिद गिरा दी गई। जबरदस्ती रातों-रात मस्जिद बुलडोज कर दी। हम इसे नजीर नहीं बनने देंगे, सुप्रीम कोर्ट जाएंगे pic.twitter.com/3GWMbLkkM5
— Imran Masood (@Imranmasood_Inc) September 5, 2026
Mosque representatives have also cited historical records and documents as evidence of the building’s longstanding use as a place of worship.
The district court’s September 2 ruling upheld the earlier eviction order. The ruling itself did not expressly order the demolition of the mosque, according to an analysis of the court proceedings by Indian Express.
Opposition condemns demolition
The demolition prompted sharp criticism from opposition politicians.
Imran Masood called the action an attack on the Indian Constitution and said authorities had surrounded the area and confined residents to their homes before the demolition. He said he intended to challenge the matter through the courts.
Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan said she was placed under house arrest before the demolition to prevent her from travelling to Saharanpur.
— Iqra Hasan (@IqraMunawwar_) September 7, 2026
She condemned the action and accused the Indian government of denying people an opportunity to challenge it.
— Iqra Hasan (@IqraMunawwar_) September 7, 2026
Other opposition figures, including Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, also criticised the demolition and questioned the government’s handling of religious sites.
VIDEO | AAP leader Sanjay Singh (@SanjayAzadSln) says, “See, the demolition of mosque in Saharanpur is completely wrong, because that mosque was built prior to 1947, the land is on the name on Javed Khan and Walid Khan, it is also registered on Waqf Board. There are two things,… pic.twitter.com/KWNmgfy9jI
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 9, 2026
BSP leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati criticised what she described as a wider campaign in the state to declare mosques illegal and demolish them in haste.
1. ज़िला सहारनपुर की मस्जिद सहित पूरे उत्तर प्रदेश में आएदिन मस्जिदों को काफी आपाधापी में अवैध बताकर उनको ध्वस्त करने का जो सरकारी अभियान चल रहा है वह ठीक नहीं है तथा सरकार को ऐसे निगेटिव हालात से बचने के लिये इस पर तुरन्त रोक लगाकर इसके समाधान के अन्य उपाय ज़रूर करने चाहिये।
2.…— Mayawati (@Mayawati) September 5, 2026
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also condemned the demolition and questioned the protection available to Muslim places of worship.
“Does the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion no longer apply to Muslims? Why is it that our places of worship are constantly bulldozed on flimsy grounds?” Owaisi questioned the Indian government.
“The mosque committee produced records going back to 1911 to establish its existence. Prayers have been offered there continuously for more than a century. This is the very definition of waqf by user, which is still protected as waqf under law,” he added.
The mosque in the Saharanpur Collectorate was demolished at 5 AM this morning.
Does the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion no longer apply to Muslims? Why is it that our places of worship are constantly bulldozed on flimsy grounds?
The mosque committee produced…
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) September 5, 2026
Muslim organisations raise serious concerns
Muslim organisations have raised broader concerns about the treatment of historic mosques and religious properties in Uttar Pradesh.
Maulana Mahmood Madani, president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, criticised the demolition and questioned the use of bulldozers in disputes involving places of worship.
Maulana Mahmood Madani expressed deep concern over the situation following the demolition of the historic Collectorate Mosque in Saharanpur.
Speaking to media persons, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind General Secretary Maulana Muhammad Hakimuddin Qasmi said all relevant legal documents and evidence were being compiled and would be placed before Jamiat president Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani. The next course of action would be decided after consultation and legal advice.
Expressing deep anguish over the demolition, Maulana Qasmi said the manner in which the action was carried out, particularly the unusual haste shown by the administration, had caused considerable concern among residents and sections committed to justice.
“An affected party cannot be denied an opportunity to defend its rights and approach the courts before such drastic action is taken,” he said. “The right to approach a court is not a mere procedural formality. It is an essential part of constitutional justice. Administrative action should not be carried out in a manner that effectively closes the door for an affected party to seek relief from a higher court.”
#Saharanpur_Mosque_Demolition: A Blow to Law and Justice
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind central delegation visits Saharanpur, meets key stakeholders; resolves to pursue all legal avenues*Saharanpur, Sept. 8, 2026: Jamiat president Maulana Mahmood Madani has expressed deep concern over the… pic.twitter.com/Sjq5pid1Xs
— Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (@JamiatUlama_in) September 8, 2026
The mosque committee has said it intends to challenge the demolition before the higher courts.
The dispute has also focused attention on documentary evidence concerning the structure. The mosque organisers have cited old records, including documents that establish its existence well before the present Collectorate complex.
