No exodus of Hindu families in UP's Deoband: Government tells Rajya Sabha

In June 2016, Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad had reportedly issued a list of 40 Hindu families that supposedly fled from Deoband due to fear of persecution.

Allegations levelled by Bajrangdal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad have been proven wrong (File photo)

NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that "no matter related to exodus of Hindus has been reported from Deoband in Uttar Pradesh", proving that such allegations levelled by right wing parties Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad were false.

"A report in thisen received from the Government of Uttar Pradesh. As per report, no matter related to exodus of Hindu families in Banhera Khas village of Deoband, Saharanpur has been reported," said Union Home Minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir.

Ahir was replying to a written question related to the alleged incidents of exodus of Hindu families and steps taken by the government to check such incidents. In June 2016, Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad had reportedly issued a list of 40 Hindu families that supposedly fled from Deoband due to "fear of persecution".

Deoband is home to the famous Islamic seminary Darul Uloom. The saffron outfits had reportedly claimed that "hundreds" of families fled from Deoband and that religious spots of Hindus in the town had also been "encroached upon".

Vikas Tyagi, regional secretary of the VHP, said, "Hindu families across western UP are living in constant fear. They are oppressed by criminals from another community. The reason for the exodus is the lawlessness. The state government has been giving political patronage to goons of a particular community. If this is not stopped, UP will become like Kashmir.

In Deoband itself, hundreds of Hindu families have fled over the years. The Radha Vallabh Temple in Kayasthavada, the Hanuman Temple at Hanuman Chowk, Vishwakarma Dharmshala at Mori Teliyan and three other major Hindu religious shrines have been encroached.

Moreover, there are four colonies in Deoband where the exodus of Hindu families has been severe. These are Mohalla Kila, Pathanpura, Khankha and Bairun Kotla. We demand that the district administration probe this matter and ensure that all Hindu families that have fled the town are brought back respectfully to their homes."