There is outrage among the minority community over a Rajasthan police (intelligence) note suggesting that poor Hindu families in Jaipur were given incentives to sell their lands which was then used to construct mosques. The note signed by the Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) has cited some examples and recommended action.
The single page report sent to the Special Branch on July 16 for “appropriate action” was reported by the two local newspapers on August 15, provoking the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) to look into the allegations made in the note. The note says “poor Hindu community members who live next to Muslim abadi (population) areas, are being provided with incentives to sell their land for construction of religious places”. It further says that this was being done by an organisation Jamait-Islami-Hind and names several industrialists who support the activities. These people meet clandestinely on a monthly or weekly basis in a hotel in order to take forward their agenda, the note further says.
Shocked over the contents of the note, PUCL went on a fact finding mission, and after visiting some of the places mentioned in the note -- one did not even exist -- came to the conclusion that the use of the contents of the ADG (I) letter and its publicity through mysterious leak seems to be part of a mischievous game plan of some vested interests with ulterior motives of flaring social tensions/polarising communities on religious grounds in the areas concerned for some future gains.
“The ADG (I) letter seems to be based on misinformation and distortion and manipulation of facts. It is necessary to know the source and basis of the information and who put it in public domain,” Kavita Srivastava of PUCL told reporters here while demanding setting up of an enquiry committee at the Home Secretary level to look into the matter. Members of the Jamait-Islami Hind were also present at the press conference.
She said there could be an adverse fall out in terms of communal disharmony, police harassment, victimisation of innocent citizens and manipulation by vested interests for socio-economic political gains which needs to be carefully watched and calls for appropriate corrective measures in order to prevent this.
Accusing the intelligence of trying to communalise the situation and show Muslim industrialists in bad light, Ms. Srivastava said the purchase of properties seemed to be part of regular property deals spread over decades with sale and purchases being reported from both communities. The mosques built over time are registered with the Waqf Board and wherever there have been objections by the majority community, construction has been stopped, she said.
