Report : Another Meenakshipuram Averted

The recent attempts of ‘mass conversion’ of Valmiki families into Islam in Rampur city of Western Uttar Pradesh drew attention of the entire country, rather the entire world, as the news was flashed worldwide through social media. In fact, if the conspiracy had not been exposed timely, repeat of Meenakshipuram was sure in this highly sensitive area of Uttar Pradesh.

We normally refer to Kashmir when we talk about high Muslim population. Fact is that Rampur district in Uttar Pradesh is also not far behind Kashmir Valley. It is the only district in Uttar Pradesh which has a large Muslim population as per 2001 census. The figures of 2011 census based on religious demography have not yet been declared, but anybody residing there or even paying a casual visit, can easily see the discernible huge spurt of Muslim population. The Hindus have been sidelined both politically and socially. Azam Khan, local Samajwadi Party MLA, who is one of the most powerful ministers in the State’s Akhilesh Yadav government, has been calling the shots everywhere in the State. He runs Rampur administration as his personal fiefdom. He is deemed as ‘Rampur ka Badshah’ both by his supporters and detractors.
The latest bid of ‘mass conversion into Islam’ exploded like a bombshell all over the country. A newly constructed mall needed parking space in its vicinity. A nearby Valmiki locality came in its way. Therefore, it was to be cleared for the parking space. Sources in local municipality claim that the Valmiki Basti had come up over the government land during British period. Now since the Mall is said to have 'blessings' of the so called Badshah, the alleged illegal occupation was to be cleared at any cost.
The farmaan was issued to the Basti dwellers to vacate the area making them running from pillar to post to save their houses. Meanwhile, an employee of the municipality told the Valmikis that if they converted to Islam, they won't be uprooted. Some of the Valmikis took it as an affront, and seven persons began indefinite fast on April 7. Others with feeble hearts displayed their readiness to embrace Islam. Hindu organisations rushed to show solidarity with the Valmiki brethren. Local MP Nepal Singh also stepped in. He also had some rounds of talks with the district administration and succeeded in making them agree to the reasonable demand of Valmikis to arrange for them alternative dwellings if they are displaced, or let them remain where they are now. Some other long standing demands of the community were also conceded in the process and the fasting came to an end on April 16. People see in the whole episode a victory for the Hindu unity.
Love Jihad, cow slaughter at peak
The conversion attempt was successfully averted, but the danger is not hundred per cent over. The way things are taking turn in Western Uttar Pradesh, it may take a fatal form in coming days if effective steps were not taken at administration and social level. Love jihad and cow slaughter are at their peak. Cows are brought in covered trucks, positioning them beneath bags of merchandise like hay, wheat, fruits, rags, etc. “They are mercilessly filled in the vehicles resulting in the death or maiming of quite a few. Recently, dozens of cows and oxen were filled inside a huge empty oil tanker by cutting open its rear covering iron plate and re-welding the same,” informs Anil Vashishth, a local Hindu activist. On suspicion when the tanker was stopped by Hindu activists and the cows were taken out by cutting the tanker, 11 of them were dead. Cow slaughtering and beef export have become cottage industry in and around Rampur. The police and administration take little interest in curbing it although stringent laws exist in the state since 2001.
Muslim miscreants are always on the lookout for Hindu girls. All sorts of ways from enticement, allurement, intimidation and use of force are resorted to carry out the objective of ensnaring young Hindu girls. The number of such incidents exceeds at least a dozen per month. Hindu girls from all social strata—rich to poor, and from all castes are their prey.
During the last a few years Rampur has witnessed huge increase in illegal and forced occupation of properties belonging to peace-loving citizens by goons of Muslim community. These riff-raff elements have become super-rich suddenly. People say nothing short of the term jungle raj describes the situation there. They want a high-powered delegation to be sent by the Central government to assess the things and take remedial action urgently.     -Ajay Mittal