The Hindu : Farooq demands arrest of BJP MP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 14, 2002

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Farooq demands arrest of BJP MP
By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU, MARCH 13. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, today demanded the immediate arrest of the BJP MP, Vinay Katiyar, for his alleged remarks about the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.

Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Dr. Abdullah tabled the copy of the report published in a Delhi-based newspaper in which Mr. Katiyar had staked claim to the holy relic saying it was that of a ``Hindu seer''. Condemning the statement, the Chief Minister said that ``it is a wrong statement by the leader of a party (VHP) which has already put the nation on fire''. If they continue with such issues, Muslims will have no faith in India. I appeal to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to take a serious note of the matter,'' he said, adding that ``he (Mr. Katiyar) should be immediately arrested and put behind bars''.

Dr. Abdullah also demanded the withdrawal of the statement by the MP saying that it was far from truth. The sentiments of Muslims had been hurt and ``we are trying to control our emotions but action should be taken before we are not able to control the emotions''. Members from the ruling National Conference, the PDP and the CPI(M) supported Dr. Abdullah's stand.

Police open fire

Strong reactions were reported from the Kashmir Valley over Mr. Katiyar's statement. A bandh was observed in Srinagar and shops and other business establishments were closed. Attendance in Government offices was also affected. In some areas, people took to the streets and demanded action against the MP. When a procession was taken out in Maisuma, police resorted to lathicharge and later teargas. But as these could not control the situation, they opened fire in the air. More than a dozen persons were injured in the clashes between the protesters and police. Lawyers in Srinagar also took out a protest march and presented a memorandum to the authorities.

The former chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Head Mufti of the State, Bashiruddin, the National Conference provincial president, G.N. Shaheen, the PDP vice-president, Mehbooba Mufti, and several others characterised the claim as ``rubbish''.

Muzaffar Hussain Beig, senior Supreme Court lawyer and Imdad Saqi, journalist have moved an application before the Srinagar District Magistrate seeking permission for prosecuting Mr. Katiyar under Section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

They said his statement had hurt Muslim sentiments. The Kashmir Bar Association has also moved a similar application before the District Magistrate.

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