Kairana exodus: BJP fact-finding team visits UP; muslim locals accuse them of disturbing peace

A nine-member fact finding team of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday visited Kairana area in Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh to verify claims of a Hindu exodus.

The fact-finding committee was announced by Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday, a day after BJP chief Amit Shah expressed serious concern over 'migration' from Kairana area in Shamli district, which had witnessed communal riots in 2013.

The team was sent after the party MP released a list of locals from Hindu Community that allegedly left the area upon receiving extortion threats by criminals 'belonging to a particular religion'. 

After holding a meeting at MP Hukum Singh's farm house in Kairana, the team consisting of senior BJP MPs and a former DGP of Uttar Pradesh, visited the homes of those who were allegedly threatened by criminal gangs.

"The party high command stands by the list I had provided and I will be providing another list of persons who have left the area," MP Hukum Singh told dna.

Arrangements of water for BJP Fact finding team visiting #Kairana locals accuse BJP of 'pre planning' @dna pic.twitter.com/MuUsn1DwBh

— Azaan Javaid (@AzaanJavaid) June 15, 2016

Meanwhile, locals in the area belonging to the Muslim community accused the BJP of disrupting peace, and claimed that the fact finding exercise was a poll plank .

Sompal, a resident whose home was visited by the team, claimed that criminals had tried to extort Rs 10 lakh from him.

Venue for fact finding team of BJP in #kairana. Teams visits Sompal who accuses criminals of extorting money @dna pic.twitter.com/kZm6Ewz3yX

— Azaan Javaid (@AzaanJavaid) June 15, 2016

Union minister Shripad Naik has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keeping an eye on the incident of 'migration' of a majority community from Kairana and a three-member team of Union ministers will be sent there for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.