No evidence of exodus of any community from Kairana: NCM

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has virtually rejected claims that there was large-scale migration of communities from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, saying there seems to be "no evidence" suggesting exodus of any community from the town of the poll-bound state.
In its spot report filed last week, the NCM has also stated that both the local administration and representatives of communities were "categorical" in assuring the Commission that there was "no unusual exodus" of Hindus.
The locals, it said, claimed that some Hindus and Muslims left the town in search of "better opportunities".
"There seems to be no evidence of large-scale migration and we were assured that there was absolutely no unusual tension among local Muslim and Hindu populations," the NCM said in its report.

It added, "We were also told that Kairana town has always had a majority Muslim population and that in the aftermath of the 2013 communal violence and the displacement of Muslims caused by it, around 280 Muslim households have settled here and that there is no unusual shift in the town's demography."
The two-member Commission team comprising Praveen Davar and Farida Abdullah Khan, who made the field visit to the town in Shamli district on October 17, spoke to local administration and representatives of different communities before compiling its observations.

According to locals, the two said, people shifting out of Kairana is part of "usual migratory" pattern and that both Hindus and Muslims leave it "time-to-time" in search of better opportunities.

"This is not surprising that given the poor economic conditions in Kairana and the growing affluence and industrialisation and therefore, the attraction (among Kairana locals) of neighbouring towns and cities like Panipat, Dehradun and even Delhi," the duo said.
The Commission noted that there is "organised" criminal activity, especially around drug trade, that is affecting all communities and that "not enough" had been done to curb these activities.
Meanwhile, the NCM said it was "disheartening" to see that the displaced of 2013 Muzaffarnagar violence are living in difficult conditions in Palada village as there is no electricity supply being made to them and the initial infrastructure like sewage network is not yet created.

Calling attention of the Akhilesh Yadav dispensation towards their plight, the Commission has recommended the state government to undertake survey to assess present status of the displaced in terms of their physical living conditions, employment, health and education of children.
Among other, the NCM has suggested Union Ministry of Minority Affairs to explore setting up of additional inter-colleges for women under its multi-sectoral development programme in Kairana after locals made a demand in this regard.