Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh has faced protests from his fellow Congress colleagues after he raised allegations that the Sanjauli mosque in Shimla was constructed illegally. Singh called for an investigation into the construction of the mosque and claimed that cases of "love jihad" had occurred in the area.

Singh questioned whether permission had been obtained before the mosque's construction. "They started the construction without approval. It was an illegal structure. First, one floor was built, then the rest followed," he said, adding, "They have a habit of engaging in illegal activities."

His remarks were met with strong opposition from other Congress leaders. MLA Harish Janartha denied there had been any prior tensions in the area, clarifying that the mosque was originally built before 1960. He admitted that three additional storeys were added illegally in 2010 on Waqf Board land, but stated that the unauthorized toilets had already been demolished. Janartha further alleged that some elements were attempting to escalate the issue.

State minister Jagat Negi emphasized that if illegal construction had occurred, strict action would be taken. Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh urged that the issue not be politicized, stating, "We respect everyone's sentiments and will act with justice. The government will take action in accordance with the law… Politics should not be played in the name of religion. Let the law take its course."

The controversy over the Sanjauli mosque construction became a heated topic of debate in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday, where Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addressed the matter. "People of all religions are respected in the state… Strict action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands. The reasons behind this situation are being investigated," he said.

**Right-Wing Protest in Shimla**

Amidst the political row, several right-wing groups staged a large protest at Chaura Maidan in Shimla, near the Vidhan Sabha, on Thursday. The protestors demanded the demolition of the Sanjauli mosque. The demonstration was led by Dev Bhumi Shatriya Sangathan president Rumit Singh Thakur, who called for "Sanatan unity" and claimed people from across the state joined the protest.

The protest followed an attack on a businessman in the Malyana area on September 1, allegedly by individuals from the Muslim community. The incident led to local residents demanding the demolition of the mosque. Thakur alleged that outsiders were migrating to Himachal Pradesh in large numbers and called for the government to verify their identity and register their trades. He also said that the Chief Minister had assured him of action in the matter.

**CM Calls for Unity**

Chief Minister Sukhu, addressing the ongoing tensions, reiterated that all residents of Himachal Pradesh have equal rights. "Peaceful protests are permitted, but nobody will be allowed to take the law into their own hands," he stated, emphasizing his respect for all religions while calling for calm and adherence to legal processes.

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Seoul (AP): South Korea's Constitutional Court removed impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from office on Friday, ending his tumultuous presidency and setting up an election to find a new leader, four months after he threw South Korean politics into turmoil with an ill-fated declaration of martial law.

The unanimous verdict capped a dramatic fall for Yoon, a former star prosecutor who went from political novice to president in 2022, just a year after he entered politics.

In a nationally televised verdict, the court's acting chief Moon Hyung-bae said the eight-member bench upheld Yoon's impeachment because his martial law decree seriously violated the constitution and other laws.

“The defendant not only declared martial law, but also violated the constitution and laws by mobilizing military and police forces to obstruct the exercise of legislative authority,” Moon said, “Ultimately, the declaration of martial law in this case violated the substantive requirements for emergency martial law.”

“Given the grave negative impact on constitutional order and the significant ripple effects of the defendant's violations, we find that the benefits of upholding the constitution by removing the defendant from office far outweigh the national losses from the removal of a president,” the justice concluded.

Protesters erupt in jubilation and sorrow

At an anti-Yoon rally near the old royal palace that dominates downtown Seoul, people erupted into tears and danced when the verdict was announced. Two women wept as they hugged and an old man near them leapt to his feet and screamed with joy.

The crowd later began marching through Seoul streets. Some people were dressed in cute blue bear costumes, a protest mascot that uses the opposition's colours.

Outside Yoon's official residence, thousands of supporters cried and screamed when they saw the news of the verdict on a giant TV screen. They waved South Korean and U.S. flags and chanted slogans.

“We will absolutely not be shaken!” a protest leader shouted on stage. “Anyone who accepts this ruling and prepares for an early presidential election is our enemy.”

No major violence was immediately reported.

Korea faces an election with deep divisions

An election will be held within two months to repalce Yoon, but a festering national divide over Yoon's impeachment will likely continue and could complicate South Korea's efforts to deal with President Donald Trump's “America First” policies and North Korea's expanding ties with Russia, observers say.

One of Yoon's lawyers, Yoon Kap-keun, called the ruling “completely incomprehensible” and a “pure political decision,” but the former president did not immediately issue a statement. Yoon's ruling People Power Party said it would accept the decision.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country's acting leader, in a televised speech vowed to ensure “there are no gaps in national security and diplomacy” and maintain public safety and order. Han was appointed prime minister, the country's No.2 official, by Yoon.

“Respecting the will of our sovereign people, I will do my utmost to manage the next presidential election in accordance with the constitution and the law, ensuring a smooth transition to the next administration,” Han said.

Surveys show Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, is the early favorite to win the by-election to choose Yoon's successor. Lee is facing trials for corruption and other charges.

Lee welcomed the ruling and credited the South Korean people for “protecting our democratic republic.”

“The courage of the people who stood in the face of guns, swords and tanks, along with the bravery of troops who refused to obey unjust orders, has led to this great revolution of light,” Lee said.

Crisis started with a night of chaos four months ago

Martial law lasted only six hours, but left behind a political crisis, rattling financial markets and unsettling the country's diplomatic partners. In January, Yoon was separately arrested and indicted by prosecutors on alleged rebellion in connection with his decree, a charge that carries the death penalty or a life sentence if convicted.

Under Yoon's decree, the first of its kind in more than 40 years, hundreds of soldiers were dispatched to the assembly, election offices and other sites. Special operations soldiers smashed windows at the National Assembly and scuffled with citizens gathered to protest, shocking South Koreans and evoking traumatic memories of military rule.

Enough lawmakers, including some from the ruling party, managed to enter the assembly to vote down his decree unanimously.

No major violence occurred during the brief period of martial law, but some senior military and police officers sent to the assembly have testified that Yoon ordered them to drag out lawmakers to block a vote on his decree or to detain his political rivals. Yoon says the troops were deployed to the assembly simply to maintain order.

Yoon, 64, a conservative, was impeached by the liberal opposition-controlled National Assembly on Dec. 14. The assembly accused him of violating the constitution and other laws by suppressing assembly activities, attempting to detain politicians, and undermining peace across the country.

In his final testimony at the Constitutional Court hearing, Yoon said his decree was a desperate attempt to draw public support of his fight against the “wickedness” of the Democratic Party, which had obstructed his agenda, impeached top officials and slashed the government's budget bill. He earlier called the National Assembly “a den of criminals” and “anti-state forces.”

Yoon still faces criminal charges

Some experts say Yoon may have imposed military rule to head off a possible independent investigation into scandals involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.

Without presidential immunity, Yoon could face other criminal charges, such as abuse of power. He's the first South Korean president to be arrested or indicted while in office.

Yoon served as prosecutor-general under his predecessor, liberal President Moon Jae-in, before joining the now-ruling party in 2021 following disputes with Moon allies. A public image as strong-minded and uncompromising helped him defeat Lee in the close-fought 2022 presidential election. But after becoming president, Yoon has faced criticism that he refused to replace officials implicated in scandals and vetoed many bills passed by the assembly.

On foreign policy, Yoon pushed hard to bolster South Korea's military alliance with the United States and overcome long-running disputes with Japan over historical traumas. He said that a greater Seoul-Washington-Tokyo security partnership is essential to coping with North Korea's growing nuclear threats. Critics of Yoon accused him of unnecessarily provoking North Korea and neglecting relations with China, South Korea's biggest trading partner.