Kanpur: On July 19 Kanpur Mayor Pramila Pandey sparked controversy by proposing a law that would prohibit Muslims from purchasing properties owned by Hindus, and vice versa. Pandey cited concerns about the attitude of some Muslims towards temples in their areas as the reason for her demand.
The issue came to light during Pandey’s visit to Munshipurwa, a Muslim-dominated locality in Kanpur, where she received complaints about encroachment on a Hanuman temple. The Mayor expressed her determination to address such illegal occupations, alleging that during her previous term, 125 temples were identified as being occupied by Muslims.
The specific dispute involves a property near the temple, originally owned by Shiv Murat, which was sold to its current owner, Mohd Akhlaq, around 20 years ago with the condition that no windows or doors would face the temple.
Pandey’s earlier campaign to identify Hindu temples in Muslim-dominated areas in 2022 was abandoned after violent incidents occurred on June 3, 2022.
Though after her previous campaign led to violence, Pandey demands for new property law to be implemented.
