Iqbal Singh Lalpura refrained from making any public. Details of his discussions with the Muslim community have not been disclosed either
Team Clarion
SAMBHAL – Iqbal Singh Lalpura, the chief of the National Minority Commission (NCM), visited the riot-affected region of Sambhal on Thursday to assess the conditions of Muslims impacted by the violence that broke out in November. His visit followed the aftermath of an incident involving the survey of a mosque and the death of five Muslims in police firing.
While Lalpura engaged with the Muslim community during his visit, a group of Hindu families, also affected by the tensions in the region, staged a protest demanding that Hindus be granted minority status in Sambhal. This call for minority recognition was voiced by local Hindu families, who claim they have been subjected to increasing oppression by the Muslim population in the area.
“Twenty-five per cent of the Hindu population has already migrated from Sambhal due to fear of Muslims. Today, only 15 percent of the Hindus remain in the Sadar police station area,” said one of the protesting Hindu families. The demands for minority status were echoed by others in the community, who felt that their plight had been ignored in the wake of the violence.
Despite these protests, Lalpura refrained from making any public statements about granting minority status to Hindus. The details of his discussions with the Muslim community during his visit have not been disclosed either. After touring the mosque, Lalpura stated that the visit was a routine one, aimed at gathering information to help the commission reach a conclusion on the matter. He did not offer any further comments.
The violence in Sambhal erupted when the Shahi Masjid was controversially identified as an ancient temple during a survey. In the clashes that followed, five Muslim youths lost their lives, with accusations flying between the police and Muslim communities. Muslims allege that the deaths were a result of police firing, while the police accuse the youths of being involved in violent acts, including murder. In connection with the violence, over 70 Muslim youths have been detained, with the court rejecting their bail applications repeatedly.
This visit comes just days after Lalpura sparked controversy by claiming that “India is a paradise for minorities,” a statement that was met with scepticism and concern by various minority groups, including Sikhs, Christians, and Muslims. Critics have described his remarks as overly favourable to the ruling party, with many questioning his impartiality.
As tensions remain high in Sambhal, the demands for justice and recognition continue to fuel divisions between the Muslim and Hindu communities in the region.
