SP leader stirs controversy over IM’s co-founder arrest
1 Sept 2013 4:19 AM IST
Samjawadi Party leader Kamaal Farooqi on Friday kicked up a controversy over the arrest of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, asking whether it is based on the grounds of crime or religion.
Congress and BJP slammed Farooqui for his comment calling it ‘ridiculous’ and ‘regrettable’.
‘Is this arrest based on crime or religion,’ Farooqui asked.
‘If he is a terrorist then he should not be spared but if he has been arrested just because he is a Muslim, then caution should be exercised as we don’t want to send a wrong message to an entire community that we are trying to malign the community’s image without a thorough investigation,’ he said on the arrest of 30-year-old Bhatkal who is wanted in several blast cases.
Farooqi claimed it will be harmful for the country if the arrest was made because of Bhatkal's religious denomination.
‘I feel there should be an objective inquiry into the issue,’ he said, adding investigators should get to the bottom of the truth.
Congress and BJP slammed Farooqui for his comment calling it ‘ridiculous’ and ‘regrettable’.
‘Is this arrest based on crime or religion,’ Farooqui asked.
‘If he is a terrorist then he should not be spared but if he has been arrested just because he is a Muslim, then caution should be exercised as we don’t want to send a wrong message to an entire community that we are trying to malign the community’s image without a thorough investigation,’ he said on the arrest of 30-year-old Bhatkal who is wanted in several blast cases.
Farooqi claimed it will be harmful for the country if the arrest was made because of Bhatkal's religious denomination.
‘I feel there should be an objective inquiry into the issue,’ he said, adding investigators should get to the bottom of the truth.
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