In West U.P., Yogi Recalls Kairana Exodus, Reasserts 'Batenge Toh Katenge Pitch'

Reasserting his "batenge toh katenge" pitch in western Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday recalled the Hindu exodus from Kairana and Kandhla, an issue that had gained prominence in 2016 and played out in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls which the BJP won, marking the beginning of Adityanath's innings as CM.

- HT Correspondent

MEERUT:

Yogi Adityanath made the remark during his address at the Sant Samagam and Satsang event at Shukteerth, Muzaffarnagar.

The Kairana and Kandhla migration controversy, often termed the "Hindu exodus," refers to claims of mass migration of Hindu families from these towns in Shamli district of western Uttar Pradesh between 2014 and 2016. The then BJP MP Hukum Singh had alleged in June 2016 that over 346 Hindu families fled Kairana, and later 63 from Kandhla, due to threats and extortion by Muslim criminals, notably Mukim Kala. A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report partially supported the claims, stating some families left due to fear.

The controversy, amplified before the 2017 UP elections but was criticized as a BJP tactic to polarise voters. Hukum Singh partially backtracked on his initial claims about the "Hindu exodus" from Kairana and Kandhla in UP. Singh later clarified on June 14, 2016, that the migration was "not communal" but due to law and order issues and threats by goons. He omitted the word "Hindu" from the Kandhla list's title and acknowledged the issue was about crime, not religion, though he stood by the lists' core claims.