Congress SC, ST MPs to petition President over Haldwani ‘purification’ row

Uttar Pradesh Police arrested senior Congress leaders, including State Congress President Ajay Rai, in Lucknow on Monday for attempting to visit Saharanpur after a historic mosque was demolished within the Saharanpur Collectorate complex. The Congress accused the police action of being a form of dictatorship, suggesting the administration is working under the direction of the BJP government to silence opposition voices.

Rai and other Congress leaders were released later that evening after several hours of detention. The Congress leader stated that the brutal action of demolishing the mosque, located in the Saharanpur Collectorate premises, was evidence of the BJP government's deep fear of the Congress party's democratic pushback. He emphasized that this repression will not quell the Congress's spirit and resolve, and that the party will continue to oppose the excesses committed by the government.

A Samajwadi Party delegation submitted a petition to authorities in Saharanpur, asking for justice and constitutional action regarding the demolition. An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team examined a well discovered during debris removal at the site of the demolished mosque, collecting samples for investigation.