Uttarkashi Mosque Dispute: Multiple right-wing Hindutva organisations held a mahapanchayat in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi on Sunday, demanding the demolition of a decades-old mosque which they alleged was built illegally. The gathering held under the banner of ''Devbhoomi Vichar Manch,'' called for the removal of the mosque and was marked by calls for Hindu unity against "love jihad" and "land jihad", which are terms often used by right-wing groups to describe alleged demographic changes and interfaith marriages.

Speakers in the Uttarkashi Mahapanchayat, including Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh, urged Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to emulate Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath's aggressive stance on "land jihad," even suggesting the use of bulldozers to remove illegal structures.

"Chief Minister Dhami should have a 'chai pe charcha' with Yogi Adityanath. The way Yogi ji teaches a lesson to 'land jihadis' in Uttar Pradesh, Dhami must also bring bulldozers into action. We will not allow jihadis to engage in land jihad in Uttarakhand. Hindus across the country are looking up to the people of Uttarakhand to set an example,'' Telangana legislator T Raja Singh said as quoted by Indian Express. 

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Gangotri MLA Suresh Singh Chauhan also addressed the gathering, advocating for a ban on meat and liquor sales in Uttarkashi to preserve the town's religious essence. "This is a centre of faith. There will be no meat, egg or liquor shops here," he asserted, adding that long-term residents respecting local sentiments need not fear the changes.

Despite tight security, the event drew around 500 participants at the Ramlila Maidan, prompting Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Uttarakhand president Anuj Walia to announce another mahapanchayat in a month. Anuj Walia also called for district-wide protests, declaring, “This is just the beginning of our struggle. We will uproot these forces from Uttarakhand.”

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The controversy began on September 9, when Hindu groups demanded the mosque’s demolition, alleging it was unregistered. However, an official investigation confirmed the mosque’s legality, with its land registered to Muslim community members. Despite this, protests erupted on October 24, leading to clashes with police, resulting in injuries to both police and protesters.

On November 27, the BJP-led state government assured the High Court that it had not granted permission for the December 1 event and had provided protection to the mosque. The event proceeded with conditional permission from the Uttarkashi district administration. Conditions for the event included bans on hate speech, rallies and traffic obstruction, which organisers claimed were adhered to. The court is set to hear the case on December 5. 


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