By RINA,
New Delhi: After Thursday demonstration by thousands of Azamgarh citizens under auspices of Uttar Pradesh Ulema Council, a delegation of the Council today met the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in leadership of Maulana Amir Rashadi to apprise the minister about the plight of Muslim youths arrested after various terrorist incidents.
The memorandum presented by the delegation to the minister includes the demand for immediate inquiry into Batla House encounter by a sitting Supreme Court judge in association with a Muslim member.
During a half an hour long discussions with the minister, the delegation raised a number of issues including rehabilitation of exonerated youths, recently passed Unlawful Activities Act, police reforms, and a demand to frame a code of ethics to prevent media from defaming Muslims. The union home minister attentively listened to their complaints and grievances and explained government stand.
Stressing that the government is strictly against targeting any community on pretext of terrorism, Mr. Chidambaram said, “The government is committed to its promise to provide security to the minorities and protect their rights.” On Batla House encounter, he reminded that the writ petition filed in the court has been rejected and both National Human Rights Commission and National Minorities Commission are still inquiring into it. “Government will take further steps only after they report back”, he said.
However, the minister supported the demand to make arrangements for rehabilitation the youths exonerated by courts, assuring that necessary framework will be erected soon to undertake this task. He also agreed that police reforms are needed but added, “It will take time.” Mr. Chidambaram also allayed fears regarding the new terrorist act, informing that no case will be registered under the act unless two judges allow doing so.