BJP MLA claims presence of Rohingya refugees in Haridwar, CM denies

In an attempt to endear himself to the ‘Sangh Parivar’, another BJP legislator from Haridwar district has come up with a controversial claim.

In a meeting with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Wednesday, Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, BJP legislator from Laksar Assembly segment of Haridwar district has claimed the presence of Rohingya Muslims in Haridwar.

Kunwar Pranav Champion, who earlier defected from Congress to BJP in 2016, said that he has raised the issue with the Chief Minister and there is a need to investigate it by intelligence agencies. “I have apprised the Chief Minister and will also take the issue with the Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi,” said Champion.

On the other hand, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat when asked about the claims of the BJP legislator about Rohingyas settling down in Haridwar denied having any knowledge. He said that there is no official report about Rohingyas settling in Haridwar.

Champion said that it was serious issue after the infiltration of Bangladeshis into the district.

Interestingly, Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, who is known for his brash ways, had spoken against the working of the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and even complained to the party chief Amit Shah about his style of functioning a few months ago. He was issued a show cause notice for breaching the party discipline. Champion later apologised to the party.

Earlier, last month another BJP legislator Sanjay Gupta from Haridwar district had accused the Chief Minister of attending “Jhota Biryani” (Beef Biryani ) party at the wedding function of a son of former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Shahzad Hussain. Sanjay Gupta was also issued a show cause notice for his statement. Later, he had apologised to the state BJP chief.