A video of a building demolition has gone viral on social media. While sharing the video, it is being claimed that government authorities are targeting the Muslim minority in India with the intent to persecute them systematically.
Aasif Mujtaba claimed, ‘How easy it has become to target only Muslims through bulldozer action in India. It’s always a mosque, tomb, Muslim house or a Muslim shop that faces the heat.’
How easy it has become to target only Muslims through bulldozer action in India. It’s always a mosque, tomb, Muslim house or a Muslim shop that faces the heat.pic.twitter.com/CFQ8bdAauS
— Aasif Mujtaba (@MujtabaAasif) February 9, 2025
The Muslim asserted, ‘After the Babri demolition, the process of demolishing mosques became common. Now the scale of atrocities against Muslims is increasing day by day, for which no solution is visible…’
बाबरी विध्वंस के बाद मस्जिदों को गिराने का सिलसिला आम हो गया अब दिन-प्रतिदिन मुसलमानों पर दर्जे हारारत का पैमाना बढ़ता जा रहा है, जिसका कोई समाधान नज़र नहीं आ रहा…pic.twitter.com/hQgiE0fiN2
— The Muslim (@TheMuslim786) February 9, 2025
IP Singh, Sadaf Afreen, Faizul Haque, Maktoob India, Samajwadi Party media cell, Sabbir Azam and Irfan also shared a similar claim.
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Fact Check
We began our fact-check by conducting a reverse image search of the viral video. Our search led us to a Dainik Bhaskar report published on February 9, 2025. According to the report, In Kushinagar, the 26-year-old Madani Mosque is being demolished. Six bulldozers are being used to bring down the three-story mosque. The SDM, CO, and forces from 10 police stations have been deployed, along with one battalion of the PAC. On February 08, 2025, the court stay on action against mosque was lifted. Today on February 9, 2025, demolition of the Mosque was carried out.
The report further states, ‘The mosque, located at Karmah Chauraha in Hata Nagar, was constructed illegally on government land 26 years ago, in 1999. Initially, approval was granted only for a two-story structure, but a third floor and a basement were later added. Hindu leader Ram Bachan Singh first filed a complaint about the illegal construction in 1999, but no action was taken at the time. After 25 years, an investigation into the mosque’s construction began on December 18. Following the inquiry, on December 23, the municipal administration issued three notices to the mosque committee, but no documents were submitted. As a result, the structure was declared illegal. The mosque committee challenged the decision in the High Court and obtained a stay order until February 8. As soon as the stay expired on February 9, the administration proceeded with the demolition.’
Additionally, we found an AajTak report published on February 9, 2025, which corroborates this account, ‘The administration has launched a bulldozer action today against the Madani Mosque in Hata Nagar, Kushinagar. An investigation into the mosque began on December 18, 2024, following which three notices were issued. However, the Muslim representatives failed to provide a satisfactory response. After obtaining a High Court stay order until February 8, the demolition was temporarily halted. As soon as the stay expired on February 9, the administration, in the presence of heavy police force, proceeded with the demolition.’
AajTak report also highlights that the issue of the Madani Mosque, built around 25 years ago, came to light when a complaint was filed with the Chief Minister. The mosque, located in the Hata Nagar municipal area, was alleged to be constructed through illegal encroachment. Following the complaint the district administration conducted a survey of the mosque premises.
Furthermore, we found reports from Hindustan and Jansatta, both of which corroborated these findings.
Are Only Muslim Religious Structures Being Demolished?
The claim circulating on social media that only Muslim religious structures are being demolished in India is misleading. There is substantial evidence that illegal Hindu temples have also faced similar actions. For instance, a Times of India report published on November 20, 2024, reads, ‘In Raichur, Karnataka, municipal staff, with the support of hundreds of police personnel, removed illegally constructed Shiva and Ganesha temples located on government school premises in Santosh Nagar.’
Another Times of India report from July 2024 revealed, ‘A total of 503 religious structures, illegally built on public land, have been removed across Gujarat.’
Similarly, an NDTV report from May 2024 mentioned a court order to demolish a Lord Shiva temple illegally constructed on the Yamuna riverbed and floodplains.
Additionally, a Deccan Herald report from September 2024 stated, ‘The Maharashtra government has directed the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to demolish 30 illegal temples on the landslide-prone Belapur and Parsik Hills. These structures occupied a staggering 2.3 lakh square feet.’
The Madani Mosque in Kushinagar was demolished because it was illegally constructed on government land, not due to religious persecution. The evidence shows that when Hindu temples are built illegally, they face the same consequences as illegally constructed mosques. Therefore, the claim that only Muslim religious structures are being demolished in India is false.
| Claim | The Indian government is specifically targeting Muslim religious structures to persecute the minority community. |
| Claimed by | Social media users |
| Fact Check | The 26-year-old Madani Mosque in Kushinagar was demolished because it was illegally constructed on government land. The administration issued multiple notices, but the mosque committee failed to provide valid documents. The High Court had granted a temporary stay, which expired on February 8, 2025, leading to the demolition. |
