New Delhi: After being accused of encouraging conversions of 800 Valmikis in Rampur, UP minister Azam Khan today said that he is ready to leave India with his entire family if he is so harmful to the country.
“If any country is ready to provide asylum then I'm willing to leave India with my family,” said Azam Khan.
Azam Khan said that difficult circumstances are being created which will bring difficult days for Muslim community in near future.
His comments came in the wake of recent controversy in Rampur where 800 Valmikis converted to Islam, raising tension in the district. Sangh parivar including the opposition BJP have blamed Azam Khan for being responsible for the conversions.
The Valmiki community was allegedly blackmailed to embrace Islam. The Valmiki Basti lies on the government land and a few days ago municipal officials had painted red marks on the houses. The houses marked red would be demolished to pave the way for building a shopping mall which is said to have the backing of UP minister and Rampur strongman Azam Khan.
According to the a memorandum submitted by Valmiki community members to Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, their homes were being demolished at the behest of a powerful politician who wanted to a make a mall in the area.
Residents allege that a municipal employee came to their houses and told them to convert to Islam if they wanted to protect their houses from demolition.
Valmiki families had protested on April 8 against demolition and threatened that if their houses are razed, they would convert en masse into Islam on Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14). The day had a high voltage drama where Valmiki families went ahead with their self-announced conversion amid heavy police deployment in the area.
No Muslim cleric was allowed by the administration inside the Valmiki Basti yesterday. However, the residents went ahead with their announcements and without any rituals, they donned skull caps to show symbolic conversion to Islam.
