In an affidavit in the Delhi High Court, the Union Home Ministry <g data-gr-id="33">said</g> “allowing any sect to take part in the conflict in Iraq or Syria would have repercussions on other sects in India. This could directly result in sectarian conflict within India, which is not in the interest of the nation.”
It said the visit of a six-member delegation of Anjuman- e-<g data-gr-id="23">Haideri</g> (AeH), which was disallowed from going to Iraq, “was primarily meant to discuss modalities of sending registered volunteers to protect holy shrines in Iraq”.
“Indian citizens cannot be permitted to go to a foreign country with a declared objective of taking part in any conflict in such foreign countries as the safety and security of such persons would be at stake and it would adversely impact friendly relations with foreign countries,” Home Ministry’s affidavit said.
It added: “Allowing an Indian to go to another country to take part in conflict (which amounts to taking part in terrorist activities) would lead to the allegation that the Indian government is promoting terrorism in other countries.”
The affidavit was filed by MHA in response to a plea by advocate Mehmood Pracha who had questioned the government’s decision to issue a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him to prevent him from travelling to Iraq to do relief work and oppose ISIS activities there.
The MHA said the activities of the religious organisation AeH, of which <g data-gr-id="19">Pracha</g> is a member, in "attempting to mobilise members of a particular sect of the community in India to participate in a conflict in a foreign country are in absolute contravention of the law and stated policy of the country".
The MHA said its action to off-load the delegation was "strictly in accordance with law and no constitutional rights of the petitioner have been violated in any manner".
It said if the volunteers were allowed to go into conflict zones, they "could get radicalised and on their <g data-gr-id="25">return,</g> could indulge in extremist activities in India too".
The Ministry of Home Affairs said “various leaders of a particular sect of the community” had urged the government not to permit any Indian to go and fight on a foreign land as it would amount to cross-border terrorism from the perspective of the other country.
Pak pounds Poonch for third consecutive day
Pakistani troops violated ceasefire for the third consecutive day on Thursday as they pounded forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.
“Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing of automatic weapons and Rocket Projectile Grenades (RPGs) besides mortar bombs on forward posts along LoC in Balakote sector of Poonch district from 1820 hours this evening,” PRO Defence, Jammu, SN Acharya said. Firing and shelling was on when reports last came in from the area.
“Our side retaliated but no casualty was reported,” Acharya said. Earlier in the day, Pakistani troops resorted to firing on forward posts along the LoC in Poonch around 0955 hours,” a Defence spokesman said.
Meanwhile, sensing security threat after intelligence inputs of militant attacks, Army and KV Schools on Thursday called off their classes and declared one-day holiday in bordering Samba district. “There were reports that militants may strike in schools. So, a holiday was declared as preventive measure,” Army sources said.