Masihuzzama Ansari | India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI, JULY 27—The name of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Dr Qasim Rasul Ilyas has been mentioned in a riot-related chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch.
Regarding the development, Dr Ilyas has tweeted “All those law-abiding citizens and activists who had participated in the anti-CAA/NRC agitation or were associated with it are being systematically framed by the police to protect the real culprits who masterminded the Delhi riots. One of the chargesheets contains my name where it has been claimed that I had delivered an inflammatory speech in Chandbagh. I challenge the Delhi police to prove the charges against me,” he stated.
Talking to India Tomorrow, Dr Ilyas said, “Delhi police is saving the original instigators, and inflammatory speech givers. Besides being a member of AIMPLB, he is Welfare Party of India’s (WPI) national President.
“I have delivered speeches during the anti-CAA rallies across the country including Delhi and all their recordings are available. The Delhi police must prove when and at what place did I deliver an inflammatory speech,” he questioned.
Lambasting the Delhi police for its biased approach and questionable integrity, Dr Ilyas said, “The Delhi police is acting on the directions of the Union Home Ministry and one can openly see that the BJP workers involved in the riots have not been questioned especially those who delivered inflammatory speeches and disturbed the social fabric of the society by stoking communalism”, he said.
Referring to the chargesheet, he said, “The names of a number of constitution- lovers who participated in the anti CAA-NRC rallies and programmes are mentioned in the chargesheet. The names of Yogendra Yadav, Harsh Mander and a number of intellectuals including social workers are there in the chargesheet. All these intellectuals and social activists are engaged in saving the constitution of the country”, he said.
It may be recalled that 53 persons had lost their lives during the Delhi riots between February 23 to 26 in North East Delhi. The recently released Delhi Minorities Commission under the Chairmanship of Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan has stated that Muslims were targeted with precision by the communal and fascist forces in which their houses and business establishments were destroyed leading to serious economic and financial losses for the community.
The Minorities Commission’s report running into 134 pages has indicted BJP leadership for its dubious role in the riots including Delhi police stating that it was partisan and biased in its approach while dealing with Muslims. The report also added that the riots were “pre-planned and systematic” which aimed at the decimation of Muslim houses and businesses.
The cops have already arrested social activists like Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jahan, Asif Iqbal, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha, Natasha Narwal Devangana and other students who had participated in anti CAA-NRC protests. Saifi and Jahan have spent nearly 150 days in jail.
