By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has slammed a criminal defamation case against a private news channel which had recently broadcast news about party’s alleged involvement with Jehadi elements.
New Delhi based news channel News X had telecast a news item citing a report of Intelligence Bureau that alleged that AIUDF and Jamiat have links with Islamic fundamentalists based in Bangladesh.
AIUDF publicity secretary Haidar Hussain Bora said, “The case was registered under sec 500, 501 and 34 of IPC on Tuesday at Dhubri. Seven top officials of the TV channel were charged with maligning the party’s image before the public.”
As per Sec 500, whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. Sec 501 is slapped upon whoever prints or engraves any matter, knowing or having good reason to believe that such matter is defamatory of any person and sec 34 is against a criminal act by several persons in common intention.
The complainant in the case, advocate Masud Akhtar Zaman who is also the party’s spokesperson of Dhubri district unit, said his party is going to slap a ‘money suit’ too against the TV channel soon.
“This is the first case registered by a party worker. Soon other members too will slap cases against the channel. Even our West Bengal counterparts are also readying a case against the channel,” said Zaman.
Earlier, the party under the leadership of Badruddin Ajmal had met President Pranab Mukherjee, Union Home Minister of State Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Home Secretary Anil Goswami seeking an early investigation to clear the air.
“It’s very disturbing to be blamed like this. We want to clear the air and so we have requested the Home Ministry to conduct an inquiry immediately. Even the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded positively to carry out an investigation,” AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam said.
Meanwhile, the Assam unit of Jamiat Ulama, also alleged by the news channel to be involved in terror activities, has decided to organize an anti-terror convention on November 20.
“Jamiat always has been a secular and patriotic organization since the days of its inception even before the partition. It’s very unfortunate that our name also has been dragged into controversy by a section of people with vested interests. We want to send a clear message across the country by organizing this anti-terror convention,” Jamiat general secretary and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) general secretary Hafiz Bashir Ahmed Qasimi told TwoCircles.net.
The convention will be attended by prominent personalities from across the country from different walks of life and religion. Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, prominent scholar Ram Puniyani and All India Jamiat president Maulana Usman Mansoorpuri will be present during the occasion among others.