Finally CM breaks silence on Eid, condemns lynching of Muslim boy

Chandigarh, Jun 26: Three days after 16-year old Muslim boy Junaid was lynched by a mob on board a moving train in Haryana, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar broke silence on Monday finally condemning the incident. Khattar has been silent on the incident all these days even as he was active tweeting on various other issues, including congratulating his counterpart in Uttarakhand on completing 100-days in power.

On Monday he said the state government has already provided financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the victim’s family. He said while the police have arrested one accused involved in the Junaid killing case, a search was on to nab the other accused.

Khattar said this on the sidelines of a meeting held under the chairmanship of the union minister of state for skill development and entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy. Khattar urged people to maintain peace. According to reports, not a single BJP leader has visited the family of the accused.

Meanwhile, village Khandoa near Ballabhgarh in Haryana, the native place of Junaid, observed a Black Eid today in protest. In fact, almost all area in Muslim dominated Haryana, including Mewat and Alwar observed a 'Black Eid'. Eid prayers were a low-key affair. Muslims wore black bands in protest. Families are protesting being labelled as ‘slaughterers of cows’. In fact, early this month as a goodwill gesture over half a dozen Iftaar parties were held in Muslim dominated Mewat during Ramzan where cow milk was used to prepare dishes.

On Saturday, one person identified as Ramesh was arrested by the police in connection with the murder of Junaid. He confessed to beef bigotry and said he was in an inebriated state and was instigated by his friends to beat up the Muslim youth. The accused said he was not the one who made the beef slur at the Muslim youth. Instead, he said, ‘his friends did’.