Gehlot Claims Action on Border Religious Sites is Meant to Polarise

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has leveled serious allegations against the central government regarding the ongoing scrutiny of religious sites in the state's border districts. Gehlot claims that the recent administrative action against mosques and madrassas along the international boundary is a calculated move designed to foster communal tension and polarization among the public.

The state has initiated a special survey targeting structures situated within a 15-kilometer radius of the India-Pakistan border. Authorities state that this exercise is intended to detect unauthorized constructions and to verify the funding sources associated with various buildings in these sensitive zones. However, Gehlot views this development through a different lens, arguing that these border regions have historically been bastions of communal harmony.

Gehlot Criticizes Targeted Action and Polarization Concerns

According to the veteran politician, the residents of border districts in Rajasthan have maintained peaceful coexistence since India's independence, largely remaining unaffected by sectarian conflicts witnessed in other parts of the country. He emphasized that religious sites belonging to both the Hindu and Muslim communities have long been treated with mutual respect and regarded with equal reverence by the local population.

Ashok Gehlot pointed out that many of these religious structures existed long before the nation gained independence. He further highlighted the historical role of these communities in national security, noting that during the 1965 and 1971 wars, local residents from both faiths provided unwavering support to the Indian army and the government to ensure the country's victory against Pakistan.

The former Chief Minister expressed his strong condemnation of policies that appear to target one specific religion. He argued that such interventions risk disrupting the social fabric of the border areas and urged both the central and state governments to refrain from creating unnecessary disputes. Gehlot reiterated that creating polarization for political motives in such sensitive, traditionally harmonious zones is not in the best interest of the nation.

While officials maintain that the survey is a routine administrative measure to ensure compliance and security within the border belt, the opposition remains firm in its belief that the timing and nature of the action are politically motivated. The situation continues to draw attention as local stakeholders and community members voice their concerns regarding the potential impact of these surveys on regional stability and inter-faith relations in Rajasthan.