By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Though we are facing a great challenge from the forces of terror we cannot allow Guantanamo Bays in a democratic India where innocents could be incarcerated and tortured. We will press the government to shut down torture cells, says Asaduddin Owaisi, All India Muslim Majlise Ittehadul Muslemeen chief and Member of Lok Sabha from Hyderabad, in an exclusive interview with Mumtaz Alam Falahi of TwoCircles.net.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: The Week magazine story exposed secret torture cells in several cities in India wherein hundreds of Muslim youths are languishing and being tortured. Yet no Muslim Member of Parliament raised the issue in the House.
I am going to raise the issue this week during the discussion on the demands of the Home Ministry. I will ask the government to shut down these Guantanamo Bays. In a democratic India these camps and torture cells cannot survive. Yes, we know that our country is facing a great challenge from forces of terror who are hellbent on destroying our country but at the same time we cannot allow in the name of fighting terror such torture cells to be set up in the country.
Q: Following terror blasts in Hyderabad scores of innocent Muslim youths were picked up from around the city and tortured in police custody. This has been confirmed by a state government appointed Advocate Ravi Chandra Committee. Muslim leaders could not gherao the government on the issue as they should have.
Arresting of innocents in the name of terror is highly condemnable. Yes it is fact that several innocents were arrested and tortured. And I think the Congress has got the bitter lesson on the count. I have told them we cannot accept these things any longer.