Nearly eight months after the lynching of Nasir and Junaid by a group of cow vigilantes in neighbouring Haryana, their families in Deeg district, formerly in Bharatpur district, are struggling with the loss and its aftermath. The upcoming assembly polls hold little interest for them.
The widows of Nasir, 25, and Junaid, 35, are waiting for justice even as they carry the burden of running their families after the rush of initial support dwindled. The charred bodies of the two men were found in Haryana in February. The twin murders sparked nationwide uproar. Now, even as political activities for the upcoming assembly polls warm up across Kaman constituency, under which the two men’s village falls, there is little interest in their families’ struggles to make ends meet.
Junaid’s widow, Saajida, 32, fends for her six children, seven of Junaid’s elder brother, who is mentally challenged, and his wife. She was given two FDs of Rs 5 lakh each for her and her children by the state government following Junaid’s murder, but she says she cannot use them. She had to sell Junaid’s grocery shop in distress and has been running the large family with that money and help from neighbours.
“I was promised a contractual job as a Class IV employee, for which I went to the nagar palika, but I have not got a single month’s salary so far,” said Saajida, her eyes welled up. She was apparently taken to minister and local MLA Zahida Khan quite a few times in the last few months. “They are promising me a permanent job but saying the file is pending at the CM’s office. We have no means to feed ourselves,” she said, sobbing.
On top of the financial distress is the sickness of Parvana, one of her daughters. “She has been ill ever since my husband died. She is in shock and has to be taken to a hospital in Alwar on and off,” she said.
“Governments promise a lot of things. I cannot use the FDs I was given. For fighting my husband’s murder case, we are supposed to pay the lawyer’s fees. I cannot think of anything else due to the financial problems surrounding me. I worry about feeding a 15-member family. Voting or no voting in the elections, my problems will remain unsolved,” said Saajida.
Nasir’s younger brother, Haamid, also seems disinterested in the coming elections. “You came to my village, but did you see a proper road to the village? If there is power cut in the village, we do not know when it will be restored. How many schools did you see in our area? What should I vote for?” he asked.
Lamenting the area’s neglect by successive governments, Haamid said, “We have a school here, but teachers hardly come there. Yes, we faced injustice, and I have lost my brother, but the entire Mewat region is suffering governmental apathy.” He also spoke of his family’s financial distress like that of Saajida’s. “At every hearing (of Nasir’s lynching case), I am supposed to pay Rs 5,000 to the lawyer. God knows how long this case will continue and if I shall have the energy to pursue it,” he added.
Meo Muslims like Haamid living in nearby villages such as Ladamkha, Pahari and Sikari echoed his opinions about the region facing governmental apathy. “Irrespective of everything else, we do not vote for BJP, but Congress, too, has never safeguarded our rights and interests. Still, if we do not have good options, we will vote for Congress. That is a common thought amongst us here,” said Nisar Ali of Laadamkha village.
The widows of Nasir, 25, and Junaid, 35, are waiting for justice even as they carry the burden of running their families after the rush of initial support dwindled. The charred bodies of the two men were found in Haryana in February. The twin murders sparked nationwide uproar. Now, even as political activities for the upcoming assembly polls warm up across Kaman constituency, under which the two men’s village falls, there is little interest in their families’ struggles to make ends meet.
Junaid’s widow, Saajida, 32, fends for her six children, seven of Junaid’s elder brother, who is mentally challenged, and his wife. She was given two FDs of Rs 5 lakh each for her and her children by the state government following Junaid’s murder, but she says she cannot use them. She had to sell Junaid’s grocery shop in distress and has been running the large family with that money and help from neighbours.
“I was promised a contractual job as a Class IV employee, for which I went to the nagar palika, but I have not got a single month’s salary so far,” said Saajida, her eyes welled up. She was apparently taken to minister and local MLA Zahida Khan quite a few times in the last few months. “They are promising me a permanent job but saying the file is pending at the CM’s office. We have no means to feed ourselves,” she said, sobbing.
On top of the financial distress is the sickness of Parvana, one of her daughters. “She has been ill ever since my husband died. She is in shock and has to be taken to a hospital in Alwar on and off,” she said.
“Governments promise a lot of things. I cannot use the FDs I was given. For fighting my husband’s murder case, we are supposed to pay the lawyer’s fees. I cannot think of anything else due to the financial problems surrounding me. I worry about feeding a 15-member family. Voting or no voting in the elections, my problems will remain unsolved,” said Saajida.
Nasir’s younger brother, Haamid, also seems disinterested in the coming elections. “You came to my village, but did you see a proper road to the village? If there is power cut in the village, we do not know when it will be restored. How many schools did you see in our area? What should I vote for?” he asked.
Lamenting the area’s neglect by successive governments, Haamid said, “We have a school here, but teachers hardly come there. Yes, we faced injustice, and I have lost my brother, but the entire Mewat region is suffering governmental apathy.” He also spoke of his family’s financial distress like that of Saajida’s. “At every hearing (of Nasir’s lynching case), I am supposed to pay Rs 5,000 to the lawyer. God knows how long this case will continue and if I shall have the energy to pursue it,” he added.
Meo Muslims like Haamid living in nearby villages such as Ladamkha, Pahari and Sikari echoed his opinions about the region facing governmental apathy. “Irrespective of everything else, we do not vote for BJP, but Congress, too, has never safeguarded our rights and interests. Still, if we do not have good options, we will vote for Congress. That is a common thought amongst us here,” said Nisar Ali of Laadamkha village.
