Chamoli traders drop diktat asking minorities to leave

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DEHRADUN: A traders’ body that had issued a resolution asking 15 Muslim families to leave Khansar town in Chamoli by December 31 backtracked on its stance on Monday soon after All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the move and sought answers from the Uttarakhand government.
Around 15 Muslim families are living in Maithan’s market area, some of whom have been there for over 30 years.These families, many of whom work as muleteers, masons, and daily wage labourers, had reportedly not faced any issues until recently.
In a post on a social media platform, Owaisi criticised the resolution, saying, “Members of the community are being treated as untouchables in India,” and directly asked the state authorities to respond. On Monday, Khansar’s Vyapar Mandal Maithan representatives were summoned to the Gairsain police station to discuss the issue. After the meeting, the association claimed they were not targeting any specific religion or caste.
Vikram Singh Negi, the association’s president, said, “Our message was meant for those who have been living here without proper police verification or under false identities. The deadline was for them to complete their verification, as well as for landlords to ensure that their tenants’ details were verified.”
Negi also said the resolution had been “misinterpreted.” He added, “We have lived here in peace and harmony for years. Our aim is to maintain that harmony and avoid any unfortunate incidents in the future.”
Chamoli SP Sarvesh Panwar told TOI, “When we summoned the traders’ representatives, they denied targeting any specific community. We have made it clear that no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands and disturb the peace.”