By M Naushad Ansari,
Patna: The conference against Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on Monday demanded repeal of the Act. Addressing a gathering of thousands of people at Anjuman Islamia Hall here E. Abubacker, Vice Chairman of People’s Movement against UAPA described the Act as a serious blow to the basic tenets of fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution.
“Thousands of innocent youth are languishing in different jails in India under this draconian Act. This is a breach of fundamental rights as an accused booked under the Act can be detained by security agencies for up to 180 days without bail”.
E. Abubacker delivering speech
Demanding repeal of UAPA the committee is organizing a protest meeting at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on March 5 to highlight the demands including treating accused as innocent till proved guilty in the court of law; not to keep accused indefinitely in jail; bail should be the rule and jail an exception; to release under- trial prisoners on bail; to prevent illegal arrests and to provide suitable compensation to victims etc.
Explaining seriousness of the movement against UAPA Mufti Sohrab Nadvi, Secretary, Imarat-e-Shariah, Bihar stated under this Act public has no access in the trial. “The details of witnesses need not be disclosed to anybody. There can be secret witnesses. The name of the witnesses need not be mentioned in the judgment, and so that the entire proceeding can be carried out in a clandestine manner.” Our agitation will continue till this Act is repealed” he added.
Hussain Ahmed Quadri of Jamiat-ul-Ulema Hind, Bihar viewed that through this law the government has obtained power to label whatever organisation they find uncomfortable as unlawful and terrorist. The UAPA overturns every tenet of a democracy and violates the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and also violates every provision in the criminal justice system meant to safeguard the innocent.
“The former repressive laws like TADA and POTA were withdrawn when people protested against the severe and drastic misuse of the law. Unfortunately amendments to UAPA in 2008 and 2012 have annulled such efforts and today we have the most draconian law in force which needs to be immediately repealed”, said Maulana Rizwan, Secretary Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Bihar.
Maulana Aneesur Rahman Qasmi, General Secretary, Imarat-e-Shariah, Bihar, in his presidential speech, emphasised that UAPA has become a new tool to falsely implicate innocent youths in fabricated cases. “The under-trials framed in UAPA are not granted bail for a long period, in most cases till the end of trial in which their innocence is proved. So unless and until UAPA is withdrawn the unending saga of innocents in jails will continue”, he said. “Such an undemocratic and hated legislation was introduced by so-called secular party and finds total support in legislatures, speaks volumes about the state of our political establishment” he surprised.
L-R: Maulana Rizwan Islahi, Maulana Aneesur Rahman Qasmi, Nayyar-uz-Zaman, Maulana Anees Riaz Salfi, Raghib Hassan
The message of Maulana Syed Nizamuddin, President, Muslim Personal Law Board and Maulana Muhammed Wali Rahmani, Secretary, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat were also read as they couldn’t attend the conference because of their serious illness. Maulana Anees Riaz Salfi of Imarat Ahle Hadees Sadiqpuri, Dr. Basant Kumar, Senior Advocate of Patna High Court, Raghib Hassan, Senior Advocaate, Patna High Court, Maulana Mumtaz Alam, Chairman, Bihar State Madarsa Board, young social activist Ashfaq-ur-Rahman, Ashraf Farid, Editor, Qaumi Tanzeem, Syed Sanaullah Rizi, Secretary, Idara-e-Shariah also addressed the gathering.
Patna’s convention was jointly organised by Imarat-e-Sharia, Jamiat-ul-Ulema, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Imarat-Ahle-e-Hadees, Idara-e-Shariah and others. Demanding repeal of UAPA a candle march was also organised here on February 21 last.