ON July 27, 2001 RSS-VHP inspired hooligans demolished wall of a Kalandari Mosque popularly known as Sawai Bhoj Mosque in Asind town of Bhilwara District (Rajasthan). This distrubed the communal harmony and led to tension between the two communities. Realising the gravity of the situation a team of the Left and Democratic MPs which included Sunil Khan and A P Abdullah Kutty (both CPI(M)), Gaya Singh (CPI), Ranen Barman (RSP) and S P Singh Baghel (Samajwadi Party) visited the town. The team was accompanied by CPI(M)-MLA Amra Ram from Rajasthan.

The team met members of both the communities and made its own assessment. The team members witnessed that one side of the mosques’s wall was demolished and it was reported that an idol was installed there. But before the team reached the place, the idol was removed by the administration. The Sawai Bhoj Mosque is situated adjoining to Sawai Bhoj Temple on the campus of the temple itself. Behind the temple there is Bariya Pir Dargah. Till recently the maintenance work of both Mosque and Dargah was looked after by the Mahant of Sawai Bhoj.

The Sawai Bhoj Mosque was constructed by Mughal soldiers in the 16^th century while the temple is said to be much older. Until the murder of Mahant Prem Dasji in 1980, namaz was offered in the Mosque without any grudge from the Gurjars whose diety is installed in Sawai Bhoj temple. However preparations for RSS-VHP inspired ‘adventure’ had begun years ago.

The MPs team met people from both the communities who expressed their desire to live together peacefully. They reported that leading the mob on July 27 were those from Sangh Parivar. Among those named in the FIR lodged in the case is Harji Ram, a well known RSS pracharak in the area. Another prime accused Mansukhlal Gurjar is an outsider who was recently staying there. He also organised and muisguided a section of Gurjar youth and led them to destroy the wall of the mosque. Mansukhlal is said to be close to RSS pracharak Hariji Ram and Shiv Sena workers. He had canvassed for BJP candidate Ramlal Gurjar in the Assembly elections held at Asind last year.

On July 27 there was Urs at the Bariya Pir Dargah and temporary tents were erected there. The local goons obstructed the passage to the Dargah and burnt down the tents.

The MPs team met the District Collector who told that a meeting of the two communities had been called to settle the dispute. The MPs team demanded reconstruction of the mosque’s wall and allow Dargah to function as usual and the culprits be dealt with appropriately.

The Asind incident raises a serious doubts about the credibility of the Administrtion as it failed to protect the interests of the minorities. It is alleged that the mosque was demolished in the presence of over 40 policemen. The demolition of the mosque’s wall and laying of marble slabs on chabutra on which Hanuman idol was installed required eight to ten hours. Meanwhile the Divisional Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Additional Superintendent of Police had reached the spot, but it seems that they did not take appropriate action to prevent the incident.

In another incident in Pandore town some miscreants damaged a mosque and burnt a cupboard which contained copies of holy books with a view to ignite communal tension. An FIR has been filed by the maulawi of the mosque. However, in an attempt to hush up the matter the mosque was washed to clean the burn marks. Earlier, on July 16, two mazars were damaged in Jahajpur town by the hooligans who have not been identified as yet. Following the incident the town had observed a bandh for five days.