Tension has gripped Gaushala Pashmi, a predominantly Hindu locality in Muzaffarnagar, after local Hindutva activists opposed the purchase of a house by a Muslim family, labelling it “house jihad,” a term used in Islamophobic narratives to falsely allege deliberate attempts by Muslims to settle in Hindu-majority areas.
Ali Hasan, who recently bought the property, alleged that groups of activists have been visiting his home and pressuring his family to leave.
“In the recent past, on different occasions, a group of individuals, four to five known and 15 to 20 unknown persons, came to my house and forcefully asked us to leave and threatened us with dire consequences,” he told the Hindu.
According to Hasan, the activists have claimed that Muslims are not needed in a Hindu locality and have organised demonstrations in the area. Posters announcing continuous meetings were also put up to mobilise residents and build pressure against the family’s presence.
Both sides have filed complaints at the Kotwali police station, accusing each other of threatening behaviour and creating a nuisance. Police have not yet publicly detailed any action taken in the matter.
The opposition Congress criticised the Uttar Pradesh government, alleging that Hindutva elements were being emboldened. The party said it would send a delegation to the locality to support the affected family.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.