Ballia, June 20: In a divisive statement, Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad said that the mosque in Prayagraj’s Nishadraj Fort is “illegally constructed,” and that if it is not destroyed, members of the Nishad clan will “throw it in Ganga.”
On the margins of a function at the district headquarters here, he spoke to the media. He said that the fort was dug under the reign of Indira Gandhi. “There was no mosque there at the time. There is also an archaeological report on the excavation. It denotes that the mosque was constructed later. He called it an unlawful mosque.
The fort is a place of worship for Hindus and Nishads. Will they (Muslims) now practise land jihad in addition to love jihad?” he also added.
According to the fisheries minister, who has been embroiled in several issues, lakhs of people visit Prayagraj on the birth anniversary of tribal monarch Nishad Raj. “People will come this time as well. They’ve decided that if the mosque isn’t removed, they’ll throw it in the Ganga,” he explained.
He described the enormous number of deaths in Ballia as a “divine disaster” due to the sweltering heat. He stated that when the inquiry committee publishes its report, the government would provide assistance to those impacted.
