Nuh, Haryana – August 23, 2023: The plight of Muslim families in Nuh, Haryana, continues to worsen as heavy rains batter the region following the recent demolition of their homes. The rain, which began last night, has escalated the difficulties faced by these families, who were already grappling with the aftermath of their demolished residences.
According to Aasif Mujtaba, founder of the Miles2smile Foundation, the relentless downpour over the past 4-5 hours has turned into a nightmare for these displaced families. Many of them had lost their homes in a demolition drive carried out after clashes erupted in the wake of Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh District.
“Received this distressing call from Tahir in #FirozpurJhirka & Shawkat in #Maholi , both from Nuh in Haryana. There is a heavy rain for the past 4-5 hours and it’s like a nightmare for these families whose houses were demolished recently. The relocation & reconstruction at some places will take another week. Tomorrow, we will try to distribute big sized tents ( 14 feet by 14 feet) to the affected families. Remember them all in your prayers. The night is tough for them. May Allah ease their sufferings,” Aasif Mujtaba tweeted last night.
The demolition drive, initiated by the Haryana government under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleged illegal encroachments by Muslim homes and businesses. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court intervened by issuing a strong order to halt the bulldozer operations in both Nuh and Gurugram. The court expressed concerns over the possibility of the demolitions being carried out as a form of ethnic cleansing under the guise of maintaining law and order.
The exact trigger for the violence that led to these events remains under investigation. Initial reports suggest that a video purportedly posted by cow vigilante Mohit Yadav, also known as Monu Manesar, played a role in sparking the clashes.
The Miles2Smile Foundation, a Delhi-based organization, is actively involved in a comprehensive response to assist individuals and families impacted by the violence and subsequent demolition of houses. Its team visited Nuh, where a significant number of Muslims were forced to reside under the open sky, leading to the loss of their means of livelihood.
