Tension has risen over the construction of a youth center by Maulana Mahmood Madani faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind in Kendki village of Deoband area of Saharanpur district, with the district administration stopping work on the project about a week ago.
The district authorities intervened after villagers, most of whom are Hindus, objected to the construction of the Yuva Kendra. He claimed that the builders did not get permission and legal formalities were not completed.
In recent days, Hindu organizations have raised objections by holding meetings with the villagers. NS BJP Deoband MLA Kunwar Brijesh Singh has also requested Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to constitute an inquiry committee.
The village is about 20 km from the place where the state government had in August decided to set up an anti-terrorist squad unit. However, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s Saharanpur general secretary Zaheen Ahmed said that the organization had decided to set up a youth center a year ago. At that time, there was no information about the plans of the ATS, he said.
Deoband Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rajesh Kumar said on Monday that the construction work has been stopped following a complaint and the matter is being investigated. He said, ‘I have asked the organization to submit all the documents including land papers and permission letters for opening a youth center in Kendki village. They haven’t completed all the documents yet.”
Kumar said the villagers were initially apprehensive that a madrasa was being built in their area.
Responding to rumors and allegations about the project, Ahmed denied any malicious intent on the part of his organization and alleged that a group of people was spreading false news and misleading villagers.
“Initially, it was circulated that we are building a slaughterhouse on the ground. When we explained this, the group broadcast that we were building a madrasa. We explained to the public that this too was false. Now they are again creating a false story and instigating the public. We are building a training center for youth under Bharat Scouts and Guides, which will benefit people from all societies,” said Ahmed.
The Jamiat official said the center was proposed to be built on around 15 acres of land, and equipped with a playground, an athletic track, an adventure park and several other sports activities.
“The center will be for people of all communities and religions. We have already bought four hectares of land and the deal on the rest of the land is under process. About a week ago, after a complaint, the administration had stopped the work, then the construction of the kitchen was going on at the site. The administration asked us to provide documents related to the land and organization. I submitted it on Saturday. The administration has not given any instructions so far,” said Ahmed.
Strongly opposing the plans of the Jamiat, Hindu organizations such as the Bajrang Dal have mobilized their workers who have met the villagers and are planning protests. A “Sangharsh Samiti” has been formed consisting of representatives from various nearby villages. On Sunday, members of the Bajrang Dal affiliated to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad along with residents of several other villages attended a meeting in Kendki.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (Maulana Mahmood Madani faction) quietly bought the land and started construction without taking permission from the district administration. He bought agricultural land, and began construction without changing its land use. In the meeting held in Kendki yesterday, we announced that regular meetings should be held till the cancellation of this project. We doubt the intention of the organization,” said Vikas Tyagi, “Provincial Sahaja Yogi”. [a regional representative]Bajrang Dal for Western UP.
He said that while Kendaki was Hindu-dominated, most of the residents of the surrounding villages were Muslims.
MLA Kunwar Brijesh Singh also claimed that Jamiat started construction in Kendki without any permission. He said that the organization should tell about its objective of making Yuva Kendra.
“On receiving a complaint from a local resident, I stopped the construction work. I have requested the Chief Minister to constitute a committee which will look into the matter.
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