Police trying to resolve the issue by holding talks with all the stakeholders
Team Clarion
BAREILLY — Hindu residents in the Punjabpura area of Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district are up in arms against a Muslim woman: the only reason that she would stay in their midst. The area residents held noisy protests and put up posters threatening migration as the Muslim woman, Shabnam, bought a house in the Hindu-dominated area.
On Monday, several residents raised slogans carrying placards threatening migration from the area. They shouted slogans against Vishal Saxena, the individual who sold his house to the Muslim woman.
Hindu residents cite the bogey of ‘Love Jihad’, the celebration of different festivals and the consumption of meat as the reasons to oppose a Muslim in their midst.
Nasim Bashiri, brother of Shabnam, said that they bought the house from Saxena as they know each other. Saxena had asked him to buy the house as he wanted to move to some other place.
“It was known to every resident. For long, he (Saxena) had been talking about shifting and selling the house. I had agreed to buy the house. It was known to all residents,” Bashiri was cited as telling local reporters.
Bashiri said that he was deeply hurt after seeing the protest. “Had the neighbours told us about their objections, we would not have bought the house in the first place. If they were uncomfortable with us, they should have told us. There was no need to involve some outfits and gather people in this manner. I am deeply hurt by the sloganeering,” he said.
“Had they told me with love, I would tell them to buy the house themselves and keep myself away. I never wanted to hurt them. The area has a history of communal harmony,” said Bashiri.
According to him, some residents sought the help of a few organisations to disturb the peace of the area. He said he was ready to accede to the demands of the Hindu residents as he wanted to maintain the syncretic culture of the area.
Bashiri said that he has been living with his Hindu neighbours for a long time and has never had any issues with them due to their religious identity.
Arvind Srivastav, a Hindu resident and former president of Bareilly Bar Association, said that he has objections to a Muslim buying a house in the area. He cited the bogey of ‘Love Jihad’ and the threat of Bangladeshi infiltrators by quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
He also claimed that no one was told about the sale of the house as the transaction was kept secret. Srivastav also raised questions over the source of money and residence of a flower vendor in the area inhabited mostly by lawyers.
“This street is meant for advocates and educated people. This new buyer is a flower vendor,” said Srivastav.
Meanwhile, the Bareilly Police said that they were trying to resolve the issue by holding talks with all the stakeholders.
