Kairana (Uttar Pradesh): A nine-member fact finding team of the BJP led by Suresh Khanna today visited Kairana area in Shamli district to verify claims of a Hindu exodus.
The team was sent after local BJP MP Hukum Singh released a list claiming that more than 250 Hindu families have left the region after receiving extortion threats by criminals 'belonging to a particular religion'.
Speaking to India TV, Khanna accused the administration of presenting the facts wrongly.
“Hukum Singh is a senior leader… there are chances that one or two names in the list might be wrong but he never indulges in politics of lies,” Khanna said.
The fact-finding committee was announced by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday, a day after BJP chief Amit Shah expressed serious concern over 'migration' from the region. Kairana had witnessed communal riots in 2013.
The fact finding team includes Radhamohan Das Agarwal, Baghpat MP Satpal Singh, Saharanpur MP RLP Sharma, Bulandshahr MP Bhola Singh, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam, Aonla MP Dharmendra Kashyap and former Uttar Pradesh DGP Brij Lal.
“We have observed there has been mass exodus of people from Kariana. Principally people are moving due to 'gunda raj' in state. We are enquiring. Stat government should also come and investigate like us to know the ground reality,” Lakhanpal said.
Meanwhile, local residents demonstrated here against the BJP’s team as they said that both Hindus and Muslims have migrated from the region.
"Hindus & Muslims are living together... the issue is being raked up due to political reasons only. There is law and order problem in the state & action must be taken against them but that isn't the primary reason for people to leave," a local said.
In a report submitted to the state government on Tuesday, the Shamli District Magistrate rejected Hukum Singh’s communal angle and said that most migrations to Haryana, Delhi and other places happen for better jobs, education, and health facilities.
The DM's report also said that of the 346 families named by BJP MP Hukum Singh, 119 have been verified. 68 of those families left Kairana more than a decade ago. 13 families in the list were found to be living in Kairana only.
