Islamophobia, Haj House opposed by local residents, Dwarka – Delhi

Hundreds of people gathered on an empty ground in Dwarka’s Sector 22 at 10 am Friday to protest against the construction of a proposed Haj House at the spot. The gathering included people who claimed they were members of a residents’ federation representing at least 5,000 residents, BJP leaders, and outfits such as the Hindu Shakti Sangathan and the Sampoorna Dehat. The All Dwarka Residents’ Federation had earlier written to Lt-Governor Anil Baijal, who is also chairperson of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), asking him to cancel land allotment made for the Haj House, saying: “There is a strong apprehension that brotherhood, harmony and peace in the society, apart from law and order, will be disturbed if the said Haj House is allowed to be constructed in Dwarka and, furthermore, there will be every possibility of riots, migration of Hindus, and repetition of situation like Shaheen Bagh, Jafrabad and Kashmir.” On Friday, a green carpet was laid out on the field for protesters to sit, as heads of the various organisations took turns to speak on the mic. The open fields roared with chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’, and ‘Hindu Ekta’, and slogans such as ‘Haj House nahi banega yahan’. Protesters carried placards reading: ‘Haj House hi kyun? School, college, hospital kyun nahi?’” (The Indian Express)

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