New Delhi: Terming the continuous cycle of demolitions of Muslim religious places across the country as ‘undeclared emergency’, several prominent Muslim bodies have said they will file petitions in courts seeking restorations of mosques, madrasas and dargahs across Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh which were demolished.“An undeclared emergency is effectively in force in the country today. Demolishing people’s homes and places of worship while disregarding legal procedures and court rulings is contrary to the fundamental principles of the Constitution,” said Arshad Madani, president, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, reported The Hindu.“If governments begin dispensing justice through bulldozers instead of courts, what is the meaning of the rule of law and citizens’ rights? The government cannot act as a judge; determining legality and illegality is the responsibility of the judiciary alone,” he added.Madani said that the madrasas and mosques being targeted today were institutions whose scholars first issued a fatwa for jihad against British colonial rule in 1803.“Thereafter, freedom fighters led the struggle for independence and sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country. Today, these same institutions are being targeted on the basis of prejudice and hatred,” said Madani.The spokesman from the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has expressed “grave concern over demolition drives affecting religious structures, residential buildings and vulnerable communities across several states.”“Jamaat-e-Islami Hind will continue to support the victims of these demolitions and advocate for their rights at all levels. We reiterate that protecting the rights, dignity, and security of all citizens remains fundamental to upholding the constitutional and democratic framework of the nation,” the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind spokesman said.The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in a conference has bemoaned the marginalisation of minorities and cited incidents of demolition of mosques in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner.The AIMPLB has vowed to launch a “nationwide movement in collaboration with justice-loving people from across communities” against social and political marginalisation of Muslims.AIMPLB spokesman S.Q.R Ilyas said an action commission is being constituted for this purpose. In its meeting in New Delhi, the AIMPLB has also expressed concern at the growing incidents of mob violence against Muslims in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled States along with demolitions of mosques and madrasas besides bulldozer action targeting Muslim homes.‘Ideological objectives of the RSS are gradually being implemented’Zafarul Islam Khan, former chairman, Delhi Minorities Commission, said that the issues of mosques and house demolitions, and “bulldozer politics” are only a small part of a larger socio-political process unfolding since 2014.“Long-standing ideological objectives associated with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) are gradually being implemented and that Muslims, Christians, and Communists are being portrayed as adversaries in this narrative,” said Khan, reported The Hindu.The Muslim bodies have said that they will file petitions in the high courts in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to restore the mosques demolished along with those mosques that have been served eviction notice.“The court cases will help in creating a historical record of grievances and injustices.” said Khan.He cited the example of the Babri Masjid dispute about how legal and historical findings remained significant regardless of the outcome.