In a video statement, Rana has vowed to continue her fight against the Act, calling the police action ‘dictatorial’
Team Clarion
LUCKNOW – Sumaiya Rana, Samajwadi Party’s (SP) spokesperson and daughter of renowned late poet Munawwar Rana, has been placed under house arrest. A vocal critic of the Waqf Act, she has also been served a notice by the Uttar Pradesh Police, requiring her to furnish a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh.
The police action has sparked concerns about the government’s attempts to suppress dissenting voices.
In a video statement, Rana has vowed to continue her fight against the Act, calling the police action ‘dictatorial’.
“This is the dictatorship by the Uttar Pradesh Police and government. But if they feel that they can deter me and suppress my voice, it’s their misunderstanding. I will fight my battle constitutionally,” she said.
“Ever since I started opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill, the police have been trying to silence me. They sent me a notice, which I initially refused to accept. Later, the same notice was sent to me via WhatsApp. I will challenge this notice in court,” she added.
The notice states that Rana’s activities could lead to a “breach of peace and public disorder.” It questions why she should not be required to furnish a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh and two sureties of the same amount for a year to prevent such a situation and maintain public order.
Large-scale protests erupted in several cities and towns across the country since the Waqf Bill was passed in Parliament last week. As part of their crackdown on the protesters, the Uttar Pradesh Police have served notices of hefty fines on several activists, putting many of them under house arrest. As such Sumaiya Rana has been confined to her home since April 4 with a police force stationed outside her residence. The police believed that her activities could potentially disrupt the public order.
In addition to Sumaiya, social activist Uzma Parveen has also been served notice. Uzma had come into the spotlight during the anti-CAA protests. Furthermore, Mahendra Yadav of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, the student wing of the Samajwadi Party, has also received a notice from the police.
Earlier, more than 300 people in Muzaffarnagar were issued notices by the district administration for protesting against the Waqf Bill by wearing black armbands while offering prayers at a local mosque last Friday and on Eid three days later.
The notice was issued by City Magistrate Vikas Kashyap after receiving reports from the local police. The notice orders the protesters to appear before the City Magistrate’s court on April 16, explain their actions, and submit a bond of Rs 2 lakh and two sureties of the same amount, with the assurance that they will maintain peace in the jurisdiction for a year.
