New Delhi, June 30 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Ministers on Tuesday hit out at the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi following the latter’s remarks over investigation into the Ram Temple embezzlement case, accusing him of indulging in “politics of appeasement” while saying that only “criminals have been killed in police action in the state”.
Addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor on Monday, the Hyderabad MP, while taking a jibe at the Uttar Pradesh government, said that if there had been a Muslim in the Ram Mandir trust, the government would have shot him in an encounter and bulldozed his house by now.
“They should have kept a Muslim in the temple trust and closed the case with his encounter and by bulldozing his house. But currently the accused are enjoying,” Owaisi had said.
Opposing the remarks, Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar said: “Till date those persons have been killed in encounters in the state, who are criminals and involved in terrorism-related activities. Tell me one innocent person who has been encountered.”
“Whenever a terrorist attack takes place in the country, at least two people are arrested in connection with it from Azamgarh, which is considered to be the stronghold of Samajwadi Party. Therefore such (police) actions take place against those involved in terror activities. Now, if he (Owaisi) is linking it to religion then it’s his take,” he told IANS.
Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Minister Sanjay Nishad questioned that where does the question of Muslims arise in the matter?
“If a Hindu were appointed to the Waqf Board, then perhaps a Muslim would be involved here. One should not bring up the Hindu-Muslim issue. I feel that such statements are inappropriate,” he said.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Narendra Kashyap accused Owaisi of always talking about appeasement.
“Would he (Asaduddin Owaisi) ever speak of having an investigation conducted into the Jama Masjid? Would he ever call for an inquiry into any mausoleum or mosque? This is Sanatan Dharma, the religion of Hindus. Here, people endure everything; they submit to investigations and even go to jail. Does this happen in any other religion?” he asked.
Kashyap alleged: “Owaisi’s main agenda is not the development of Uttar Pradesh or the country; he wants to do politics based on a policy of appeasement, which is not accepted in the state.”
Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya, Peethadheeshwar of the Tapasvi Chhawani in Ayodhya, called the AIMIM Chief’s statement “baseless”.
“Has any Hindu ever been kept in Mecca or Medina where there are mosques, or has any Hindu been made a trustee there? These are meaningless arguments. When idol worship is considered forbidden in Islam, how can a Muslim become a trustee at a place where idol worship takes place?” he told IANS.
However, the All India Imam Association President, Maulana Sajid Rashidi came in defence of the AIMIM Chief, saying: “It is true that if the name of an Abdul had been involved, he would have been beaten by now. By now, he would have faced an encounter, his house would have been bulldozed, and a public parade would have been conducted. It is unfortunate that those who have betrayed people’s faith are being protected through SITs and inquiry committees. The real culprits are being shielded.”
“All Hindus stood up to defend (former General Secretary of Ram Temple Trust) Champat Rai, even though he is the main accused in this case,” he also alleged.
–IANS
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