Newsmaker | Nuh clashes: The first-time Cong MLA in Haryana govt’s cross-hairs

Mamman Khan accused by BJP of making provocative speeches ahead of the violence; Home Minister Anil Vij says clashes happened in all the places the MLA had just visited

An engineering graduate turned politician, the 56-year-old Congress MLA has been the target of the BJP's accusations since the violence in Nuh, which resulted in six deaths. (Twitter/MammanKhan)

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TALKING TO reporters on the sidelines of the last day of the Monsoon Session of the Haryana Assembly, which was marked by disruptions over the Nuh violence, Home Minister Anil Vij said the police would soon be questioning Congress MLA Mamman Khan and that investigations had indicated his links to the clashes in July end.

“It has also been found that places which Mamman Khan visited on July 28, 29, and 30, violence took place at all those spots,” Vij said.

An engineering graduate turned politician, the 56-year-old Congress MLA has been the target of the BJP’s accusations since the violence in Nuh, which resulted in six deaths.

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A first-time MLA from Firozpur Jhirka, Khan came into politics after attaining a following for his social activities across southern Haryana. His first foray into polls was in 2014, when he lost as an Independent from Firozpur Jhirka to the INLD’s Naseem Ahmed by a narrow margin of 3,245 votes. In 2019, the tables were turned. Ahmed contested on a BJP ticket, and lost to Khan, now a Congress nominee, by over 32,000 votes from the seat.

In his 2019 election affidavit, Khan declared assets worth over Rs 5.4 crore. As an MLA, he has impressed with his participation in the Assembly, raising issues concerning not only his constituency but also neighbouring ones in southern Haryana.

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Right after the Nuh violence, BJP leaders pointed fingers at Khan’s alleged role in it. They accused him of making provocative statements in the February Budget Session, after the killing of two people of the minority community by alleged cow vigilantes.

Khan had mentioned Monu Manesar in his statements, calling him one of the prime accused and demanding stern action against him. Displaying photographs of acts of violence allegedly by Manesar, Khan had dared him to visit the Mewat region, promising to teach him a lesson if he did so.

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The Nuh violence erupted during a VHP rally, where there were reports that Monu Manesar would be present.

Sources told The Indian Express that a few of Khan’s aides, who formed his core team during the 2019 elections, had been arrested on charges of violence and arson during the Nuh clashes. While police have summoned the MLA in connection with an FIR, it is not yet clear whether he would make an appearance.

Despite repeated attempts, Khan was not available for comment. Sources said he was consulting his lawyers on the next course of action.

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In more trouble for Khan, a few days after the Nuh violence, a woman had surfaced claiming to be married to him. Khan’s wife had lodged a police complaint against the woman, accusing her of extortion and harassment, and of acting at the behest of the MLA’s rivals.

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Speaking at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, its national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said recently that Khan’s statement in the Vidhan Sabha and his social media posts “raise suspicion about the Congress’s role in the violence”.

Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda replied that Khan’s remarks were in the past, and he had apologised for the same. “Linking his statement with the recent violence is completely incorrect.”