Mass Protests by Hindu Groups to Revoke Madrasa Land Allocation in Udaipur's Mavli Town

Udaipur- In Udaipur's Mavli block, a large-scale protest took place on Monday, with markets shut and shops remaining closed in response to the allocation of land to a madrasa.

People from various communities led by Hindu organisations gathered in the thousands at the old bus stand to express their discontent. A memorandum was submitted to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), addressed to the Chief Minister, urging the cancellation of the land allocation for the madrasa.

The protest saw a massive turnout from surrounding villages in Mavli Tehsil, where schools had already declared a holiday in anticipation of the event.

Demonstrators arrived in large numbers, with people from nearby villages also participating, causing markets to remain closed in Mavli as well as in Fatehnagar, Sanwad, Ghassa, Dabok, Palanakalan, and Khemli.

The controversy stems from the 2021 decision by the then Gehlot government to allocate 4 bighas and 16 biswas of land in Mavli for the madrasa. Protesters argue that the land is in a waterlogged area and is connected to the Abdul Rahman case. Given the scale of the protests and the widespread closure, Mavli SDM Mansukh Ram Damor has recommended to the district collector that the land allocation be canceled.

Protesters intensified their opposition to the allocation of land, they recited the Hanuman Chalisa and sang Bhajans. A large crowd gathered at the old bus stand, submitting a memorandum to the SDM, demanding the cancellation of the land grant. Police forces were deployed to ensure order during the protest.

Chittorgarh MP CP Joshi also joined the protesters at the dharna site. Addressing the media, he stated that public sentiment must be respected, and the proposal to revoke the land granted to the madrasa would be acted upon. He further explained that the land is located near Hindu temples and a crematorium, making it unsuitable for a madrasa, and thus the allocation should be canceled.

Adding to the pressure, the SDM's report confirmed that the allocated land is in a waterlogged area. Acting on this, the district collector has already recommended the cancellation of the land grant.