MP Zia ur Rahman Barq has appealed to the people of his constituency to maintain peace
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded a fair probe into the killing of three Muslims during clashes between locals and the police over the survey of the historical mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district.
On Sunday, Naeem Ahmed, Bilal Ansari and Nauman were killed allegedly during police firing at the protesters who clashed with them when a team was surveying the mosque.
“We strongly condemn the firing by Uttar Pradesh police on those protesting for peace in Sambhal. Three youths have died in the police firing. We pray to Allah to forgive the deceased and give patience to their families. There should be an impartial investigation. Action should be taken against responsible officials,” said Owaisi.
He cited Urdu couplets to express his pain over the killings. “How many people’s blood do you need, O my countrymen? Who can make your colourless earth bloom? How many sighs will cool your heart? How many tears should fill your desert with flowers?”
In an earlier statement on the survey of the mosque, the Hyderabad MP said that the Ayodhya judgment which had handed Babri Mosque’s land to build a temple has emboldened Hindutva groups to target other mosques.
“The Babri Masjid judgement has emboldened Hindutva groups to target Muslim places of worship across India. Look at the case of Shahi Jama Masjid at Chandausi, Sambhal, UP,” he said.
READ ALSO: UP: 3 Muslims Killed as Clashes Break Out in Sambhal Over Mosque Survey
He pointed out that within three hours of the application being submitted, the civil judge ordered an initial survey at the mosque site to find out if a temple was demolished to build the mosque. The application was moved by a lawyer who is the Uttar Pradesh government’s standing counsel in the Supreme Court. The survey was carried out on the same day.
“This is how Babri’s locks were also opened within an hour of the court order, without even hearing the other side. This ‘speed’ isn’t shown in ordinary cases. If courts continue to carry out such orders, the Places of Worship Act is just a dead-letter. The Act was meant to prevent such litigation from even reaching the courts in the first place. A masjid that has been used as such for hundreds of years is being made subject to motivated and communal litigation. Courts must nip this in the bud,” said Owaisi.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party’s Sambhal MP Zia ur Rahman Barq has appealed to the people of his constituency to maintain peace.
“I appeal to the people of Sambhal for peace. I am very sad to hear about the situation. Whatever loss of life and property has happened, it certainly cannot be compensated. This decision is not the final decision. I hope that the higher courts of this country and the parliament will do justice,” said Barq.
Barq was not in his constituency when violence broke out there. He had gone to Bengaluru to attend a meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
“No one will be able to escape the court of Allah. I came to Bangalore last night for the meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. As soon as I got the news of the situation, I came back. Tomorrow I will raise my voice against the brutality committed by the police in the Parliament. And soon I will come back among my people,” said Barq.
