The shia cleric with PM Modi. Shia cleric and Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Hind General Secretary Maulana Kalbe Jawwad has withdrawn a call for nationwide camps to help Muslims, Dalits and tribals fill up forms for arms licenses. Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Nahid Hasan, has been caught on camera urging Muslims living in the area to boycott all shopkeepers who are BJP supporters.
The announcement came after controversy ensued over the camp organiser and Supreme Court lawyer Mehmood Pracha’s statement at a press conference in New Delhi on July 11 in which he reportedly asked Muslims, Dalits and tribals to sell their property and jewellery to buy weapons.
“These communities are being targeted in incidents of mob lynching and have the right to take the path of violence to protect themselves,” he was quoted as having said at the press conference held to announce a series of camps across India to fill up forms for arms licenses.
The movement was to commence from Lucknow, where the first camp was to be organised on July 26 on the invitation of Maulana Kalbe Jawwad.
Pracha had said that the camps would be organised in at least 12 cities, including six in Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims, Dalits and tribals are under threat and need legal help.
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad had earlier said: “The SC/ST and minorities have been pushed to the edge by the government, which is soft on perpetrators of mob violence. In such a scenario, there is no option left, but self-defence. Many from these communities face discrimination and they will avail of our legal expertise to fill forms and apply for an arms licence.”
The Maulana, on Monday, said: “In view of the controversy and keeping in view the manner in which our statements have been distorted, the camp is being called off. Our intention was to empower the weaker sections but we did not intend to train them for violence. We merely wanted to equip them for self-defence.”
He said the camp would have ensured keeping out applicants with criminal antecedents or those with political or business interests.
“This campaign was not for the Shia community, in particular, but for all minorities who feel threatened. We would have also acted against those who misused their licences,” he said.
“If the government had taken strong steps against perpetrators of hate crime, we would not have had to take up such a measure. There are tough laws in the Constitution and Indian Penal Code (IPC) which the government should invoke. The draft bill on lynching is mere eyewash,” he added.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Nahid Hasan, has been caught on camera urging the Muslims living in the area to boycott the shopkeepers who are BJP supporters.
In the video, which has now gone viral, Hasan can be seen urging his community members in Kairana and in nearby villages not to buy anything from shops owned by BJP supporters.
“For 10 days, one month, go elsewhere, to other villages but for solidarity with your brothers, face some hardships. Boycott these BJP people in the market. Only then things will improve. Their homes run because we buy things from them. And because of that, we are suffering,” he is heard saying.
Kairana is a communally sensitive area and the place was in the news a few years ago after reports surfaced that Hindus were leaving Kairana due to the fear of Muslims. The population of Muslims in Kairana is believed to be above 60 per cent. (IANS)