Hindutva Protest In Bareily Led Muslim Family To Sell Home To ‘Sanatani’
Days ago, a Muslim woman named Shabnam bought a house, located in Punjab Pura, a predominantly Hindu locality in Bareily. However, due to the uprising of Hindu residents in the locality, threatening mass exodus if the house’s registry records are not canceled, and thus Shabnam has decided to sell the property to any Sanatani.
All she demands now is an appropriate price. As per the Wire report, the house’s original seller Vishal Saxena had to file a complaint against the locals to the police stating that the residents along with the Hindu organizations, had made false allegations about the sale and threatened mass migration of Hindus from the neighbourhood in order to spread communal disharmony.
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Saxena while speaking to Wire said that earlier some 12 to 15 Hindus had come with an interest in buying the house, however, the deals did not survive due to the Sufi shrine behind the house and Muslims living nearby.
Saxena has now said that he does not want the house back and this whole series of incidents is an “attempt to spoil the image of the city”.
Soon after the house was purchased by Shabnam, Hindu residents were seen protesting by affixing posters and placards on the walls of their homes, declaring their intention for a “samuhik palayan” (mass exodus).
The crowd raised concerns that letting Muslims occupy the house in the vicinity would result in the perpetuation of ‘love jihad’. Apart from that, Muslims’ food habits and their potential interference in Hindu festivals also surfaced. The different versions of the allegation went up to the extent that one claimed that Shabnam’s brother Naseem was the mastermind of the 2010 Bareilly riots.
Meanwhile, Naseem who sells flowers at the nearby dargah, took it upon himself to maintain “communal harmony” in the neighbourhood. He said that to revive secularism in his area, the family is ready to sell the house.
Much like he sells flowers from his shop to Hindu customers who come asking for them for ritual use, Naseem has now consented to sell away the house to any Hindu who comes forward.
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The police official after consulting with both the parties, had said that Shabnam’s family is ready to sell away the house to any Hindu who comes forward.
Meanwhile, the former owner of the house, Saxena in his application to the senior superintendent of police has appealed for a proper investigation into the spread of community frenzy following the sale of his house and demanded the immediate restoration of peace in the area.
