Hundreds of Muslims have gathered inside the historic Shahi Masjid in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, to oppose its planned partial demolition for a road-widening project.
The project forms part of preparations for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh pilgrimage. The Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed petitions challenging the removal of part of the mosque on September 9, allowing authorities to proceed with the road-widening plan.
Muslims Organise Protest Inside Mosque
According to local residents quoted by Maktoob, community members have been sitting inside the mosque in shifts for more than two weeks. They said large groups remain at the site while daily prayers continue as scheduled.
Residents also claimed police increased their presence and brought bulldozers to the area overnight. They said the operation was halted after large numbers of people gathered inside and outside the mosque.
The mosque’s management had challenged the demolition notices in court, arguing that the structure is a Waqf property and that the proposed work would affect part of its prayer hall, minaret and adjoining religious structures.
Court Allows Partial Demolition
The High Court, however, upheld the Ujjain Municipal Corporation’s plan to remove the portion obstructing a proposed 15-metre-wide road. The court said authorities had considered objections and acted under the road-widening plan linked to traffic management for Simhastha 2028.
The court also noted that portions of several religious structures along the same road had already been removed. According to the judgment, authorities had taken action involving around 80 religious places across Ujjain.
Community leaders have raised concerns about the impact on other mosques in the city. They also referred to previous demolitions and said they wanted assurances that additional religious structures would not face similar action.
The Shahi Masjid dispute comes amid wider road and infrastructure work across Ujjain ahead of the major Hindu pilgrimage. Authorities say the projects aim to improve traffic flow and accommodate the large number of visitors expected during the event.
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