Uttar Pradesh elections are around the corner and the issue of conversion is becoming heated. The state ATS is making arrests of people accused of conversion.
Irfan Khwaja Khan who was arrested from Beed, Maharashtra on Tuesday, works with the Ministry of Child Welfare as an interpreter. Sources say that Irfan has shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice in 2027 and another in 2020. In both these events, Irfan had explained Modi's speech to the deaf through gestures.
Questions are raised as to how Irfan could share the platform with Modi if he was involved in conversion cases.
These two programs where Irfan had shared the stage with Modi were one in Prayagraj in UP and another in Rajkot in Gujarat. Rajkot event which was organised for hearing impairment people on 29 June 2017, where Irfan had translated PM Modi's speech in sign language for the draft people.
In the second event that took place in February 2020 in Prayagraj, Irfan was a translator. Modi after the program got over had reached Irfan and patted his back. Back then, Irfan told the media that it was a privilege for him to get words of praise from the prime minister and said that he will remember this moment forever.
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Why has Irfan been arrested?
GK Goswami, IG of UP ATS said that their investigation has revealed that Irfan has been involved in a case related to conversion. His role is important in the case, as it is said he used to convert deaf people. Further investigation is underway, Mr Goswami informed.
A press note issued by the ATS on Tuesday stated that Irfan used to influence and incite deaf and dumb Hindu children and children belonging to other religions to convert to Islam. He used to provoke children against their religion. Apart from this, a list of the deaf and dumb children was also provided to Maulana Umar Gautam and Jahangir Alam who converted.
Irfan's brother says he's has done good works for differently-abled people
Irfan is the youngest of three brothers. Irfan's lives in a tin shed house in Jayakwadi locality of Sirsala village of Beed district. Irfan's father Khwaja Khan used to work as a mechanic in ST Mahamandal. He died seven years ago. While working, Khaja Khan had taken a house in the Azadnagar area of Parli Vaijnath city. This is where Irfan was born in 1986.
Irfan's brother Farkhan said that he completed his primary education at the Bilal Urdu School in Parli. After completing his schooling, Irfan received his higher education from Vaidyanath College, Parli. In 2013, he got a job in the Child Welfare Ministry as a translator and got married in 2015. According to Farkhan, Irfan does a lot of good work for disabled children. The villagers also praised and spoke good words about Irfan, while nobody believed he could do such an act of conversion.
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Irfan's arrest has been kept hidden from his ailing mother whose condition is critical. Farkhan says if his mother comes to know about Irfan's arrest she may not be able to take that pain. Irfan had just come to meet his mother and family in February.