Mamman Khan: Congress candidate's electoral win from Haryana's Nuh tied to support from Rohingyas?
PTC Web Desk: Mamman Khan, the Congress candidate, has celebrated a significant victory in the Jhirka Sssembly seat of Nuh, Haryana, winning by an impressive margin of 98,441 votes. According to data from the Election Commission, Khan received a total of 130,497 votes in the election. Despite his electoral success, Khan’s victory is overshadowed by controversy. He is currently facing charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for allegedly inciting the communal violence that erupted in Nuh on July 31, 2023.
Mamman Khan's win can be partially attributed to robust support from the local Muslim community, which constitutes roughly 80% of Nuh's population. However, there are claims that he has also garnered support from illegal Rohingya immigrants living in the area.
Rohingya refugee influx
Recent reports indicate that the demographic landscape in Haryana's Nuh is shifting due to an influx of illegal Rohingya migrants. Following the July violence, the police arrested several Rohingya refugees on suspicion of their involvement in the unrest. On October 7, 'Organiser Weekly; aired a video featuring a madarsa in Nuh allegedly catering to these illegal immigrants, where children were heard saying, "Non-believers will burn in hell."
In the video, teachers at the makeshift madarsa confirmed their origins from Myanmar and admitted to entering India illegally. They stated that they have faced no issues in Nuh and referred to themselves as 'Mehmaan' (guests). Interviews with children revealed their ambitions to become "Hafiz," people who memorise the Quran, rather than pursuing careers in fields like medicine or engineering.
One Rohingya refugee openly admitted to crossing into India illegally from Bangladesh in 2016 to escape violence in Myanmar. He acknowledged his lack of a passport or visa and that he relied on facilitators to cross the border. His only documentation is a UNHCR refugee card, raising significant concerns about the implications of unchecked immigration on local communities amid ongoing communal tensions.
These revelations present several challenging questions for the Congress party. Is the party intentionally supporting these outsiders? Why is Congress aligning with those sheltering Rohingyas? Are they leveraging Rohingyas as a potential vote bank? Will Congress clarify the Rohingyas' role in their recent electoral success?
- With inputs from agencies
