AMN / New Delhi
National Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Malik Mohtasim Khan along with a delegation of Muslim leaders met Maulana Tahir Madani (General Secretary, Rashtriya Ulema Council) on Monday in Azamgarh jail and expressed dismay at the strange manner in which the UP Police is operating against those who wish to protest against the CAA-NRC.
Expressing his thoughts after his Azamgarh-trip, the National Secretary for Community Affairs of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Malik Mohtasim Khan said: “we met Maulana Tahir Madani and about 18 others who have been arrested by the UP Police and lodged in the Azamgarh Jail. We expressed our solidarity and support to them.
We were very upset to find that some of those in jail were students and were mere bystanders and not even protesting. Even Maulana Tahir Madani had gone to the protest site to talk to the women protestors so that the tense situation is diffused and no untoward incident takes place. However, it is very strange that the UP Police arrested Maulana himself and has slapped very serious charges against him.
Normally the Police detain protestors for a few hours if there are prohibitory orders and they fear the law and order situation could be affected. But in this case the UP Police are displaying some kind of vindictive attitude, they are operating very strangely and it seems they are protesting against the protestors. We condemn the action of the UP Police in Bilariyaganj town, Azamgarh where the UP Police hit the women protestors with batons and fired tear gas. They also brought over water tankers and flooded the Maulana Jauhar Ali Park where the women were protesting. A dedicated legal team is trying to secure the early release of Maulana Tahir Madani and others. The next hearing is on 25 February. However, we demand that the UP Police to drop all charges and to end the case before that date. The judiciary has vindicated and upheld the right to peaceful protest and the government and its agencies must respect that right.”
Press Release