Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai detained in Lucknow over Saharanpur mosque demolition protest

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 7 (ANI): The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday detained State Congress President Ajay Rai in Lucknow after he led demonstrations protesting the government's demolition of a historic mosque inside the Saharanpur Collectorate complex.
Speaking to reporters, Rai lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government, terming its actions coercive and unjust.
"The government is acting coercively; they are forcibly arresting us for standing up against injustice and oppression. We will certainly fight against this tyranny. We will uproot this government for targeting Muslims today, and Congress workers will stand firm against any further atrocities committed against the Muslim community," he said.
The Saharanpur Collectorate Mosque was demolished early Saturday following a court order upholding its removal.
Earlier on Sunday, Rai said a fact-finding delegation will reach Saharanpur on September 7 to understand the situation.
"It is deeply unfortunate. Our fact-finding delegation will reach Saharanpur on 7 September and meet officials to understand the situation. This mosque was said to be around a hundred years old and existed before the collectorate was built," Rai said.
Lucknow Eidgah Imam Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali also condemned the demolition of an illegal mosque located inside the Saharanpur Collectorate premises.
On Friday, the District Judge's court on September 4 dismissed the mosque committee's appeal and upheld the City Magistrate's earlier order.
The City Magistrate's court had on July 17 ordered demolition of the structure and imposed compensation of approximately Rs 6.41 crore in connection with alleged encroachment and misuse of government land.
Saharanpur DIG Abhishek Singh said the demolition was being carried out following the court's order and in accordance with legal procedures.
He also said that additional PAC and RAF personnel had been deployed at strategic locations and that social media was being monitored to prevent rumours. (ANI)