Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR : The All Arunachal Pradesh Masjid Welfare Committee (AAPMWC) has urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to ensure equal treatment of all communities and outsiders residing in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR), irrespective of religion.

Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here on Saturday, AAPMWC president Giah Limpeah Sultan described the recent sealing of masjids in the ICR as a one-sided action against the Muslim community and questioned the district administration’s claims regarding the number of mosques operating in the region.

Sultan argued that issues relating to registration and construction permissions alone were insufficient grounds for sealing the structures and called on the authorities to provide stronger legal justification for the action.

Referring to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, he claimed that several churches and temples in the region also lack construction-related documents in official records.

According to Sultan, records of the District Land Revenue and Settlement Department indicate that documents pertaining to 15 churches and temples are unavailable in government records. He asserted that if action had been initiated against the masjids on grounds of illegality, similar measures should be taken against all religious structures found to be operating without requisite permissions, irrespective of faith.

Clarifying the committee’s stand, Sultan said AAPMWC harbours no hostility towards any religious community in the state. However, he maintained that growing concerns and ongoing campaigns directed against Muslims had compelled the organisation to raise the matter publicly.

The committee called upon the state government to uphold the principles of equality, fairness and impartiality while dealing with issues concerning religious institutions and communities.