Hundreds have gathered at Ujjain’s Shahi Masjid as authorities plan to remove part of the mosque for a road-widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh.
UJJAIN, INDIA — WEB DESK: Hundreds of Muslims have gathered inside and around the historic Shahi Masjid in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, to oppose the proposed partial demolition of the mosque for a road-widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh pilgrimage.
Local protesters say the mosque is around 600 years old, although reporting on its precise age is not fully consistent. One local report dates the structure to 1390, while mosque-management accounts cited elsewhere describe its documented history differently. The age should therefore be attributed rather than stated as an independently established fact.
Residents have reportedly been staying inside the mosque in shifts for more than two weeks. Local participant Tauqeer Khan said worshippers had agreed to maintain a continuous presence at the site while continuing the five daily prayers.
The dispute centres on a road-widening project linked to preparations for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh, which authorities expect to attract large numbers of pilgrims to Ujjain. The proposed action involves only part of the mosque rather than demolition of the entire structure.
Mosque representatives challenged the municipal action before the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Reports say the court rejected petitions against the demolition notices, finding that authorities had followed the applicable statutory process and provided an opportunity for those administering the mosque to be heard.
Petitioners argued that the project would affect part of the prayer hall, a minaret and Mazhar Chowk Shahi. The mosque is also reported to be registered as Waqf property.
The situation became more tense on Monday. Indian media reported clashes between protesters and police, with police using tear gas and a lathi charge, while stones were also reported to have been thrown at security personnel.
Authorities say the road project is part of wider infrastructure work designed to manage traffic and accommodate the expected influx of visitors for the 2028 religious gathering. Al Jazeera reported that the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government says the road widening is required for preparations ahead of the pilgrimage.
The dispute therefore involves competing claims over preservation of a historic place of worship, property and religious rights, and the government’s stated infrastructure and traffic-management requirements.
