BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had alleged that Tanveer Peera has connections with the Islamic State (IS) terror outfit. He had also criticised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for sharing a dais with him at a religious convention held in Hubballi earlier this week.
Team Clarion
BENGALURU — Syed Tanveer Hashmi a.k.a Tanveer Peera, a preacher and an Islamic spiritual leader, has challenged Bharatiya Janata Party’s lawmaker in Karnataka, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, to prove the latter’s allegations that he was connected with terror outfits.
If terror link allegations were proven against him, he would leave the country and if not then the BJP leader should resign and go to Pakistan, Tanveer Peera said in a statement issued in Vijayapura on Thursday.
Yatnal had alleged that Tanveer Peera has connections with the Islamic State (IS) terror outfit. He had also criticised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for sharing a dais with him at a religious convention held in Hubballi earlier this week.
The MLA had also shot a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and shared pictures of Tanveer Peera on his alleged recent visits to the Middle East and meeting terror sympathisers and radical operatives.
“There is no truth in the allegations made against me by Yatnal. I had taken part as the chief guest in the convention held in Hubballi on December 4. Various preachers from Dargahs, CM Siddaramaiah, Minister of Law H.K. Patil, other ministers and MLAs were present. The CM is not confined to any community or society. It is the duty of the CM to serve all religions and castes,” Tanveer Peera stated, according to an IANS report.
“Not able to tolerate the growing stature of CM Siddaramaiah, MLA Yatnal has made allegations against me. He has given statements against the Muslim community. This is done only for political mileage,” he charged.
“Let Yatnal provide all documents to the central and state investigating agencies and prove IS connection in a week. He should release the evidence to prove that I have connections with terrorists. Otherwise, he should resign from his MLA post and go to Pakistan,” Tanveer Peera was quoted as saying.
“If it is proved that I have terror links, I will leave the country. My disciples and students will also leave the country,” Tanveer Peera stated.
Tanveer Peera also shared the footage of the patriotic song “saare jahan se achcha Hindustan hamara” on his social media.
Syed Tajuddin Qadri, the organiser of the conference, stated that Tanveer Peera is not just a scholar. “He is a Sufi. In 2016, he was one of the organisers of the Sufi World Conference. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended that conference, why was Yatnal silent then? Why didn’t he speak then if what he was saying was true,” Qadri asked.
Tanveer Peera belongs to the renowned Hussiani Hashmi Family. He is a patron of various academic, social, and religious activities of Sufi Sunni Muslims in India. Recently appointed as the President of Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat, Karnataka, he also leads the Al Hashmi Educational Welfare & Charitable Trust, providing Islamic and formal education. He is the chief of the Muslim Muttahida Council (MMC), a consortium of Muslim organisations, and a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
