Shaheen Bagh hate speech: Assam files case against Sharjeel Imam

Guwahati: Condemning the statement made by Shaheen Bagh protests’ main organiser Sharjeel Imam, who called for Assam to be cut off from the rest of the country, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government has taken cognizance of the seditious statement and a case has been registered against Imam.

The Guwahati police have already registered a case against Imam, said the state finance and education minister on the sidelines of a press conference at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Saturday.

Sarma’s comments came after a video was released by BJP leader Sambit Patra, and picked up by a media house. In the video, Imam can be heard saying, “We can cut off Northeast from India, if not permanently, then at least for a few months.”

Speaking on the condition of Muslims in Assam, Imam said, it is known to all. And now that CAA has been implemented in Assam, people are being put in detention camps. “We may come to know that in 6-8 months all Bengalis have been killed — Hindu or Muslim. If we want to help Assam, then we will have to stop the way to Assam for the Indian Army and other supplies,” he added.

Also Read: Ranjan Daimary all set to join peace process, new Bodo accord soon

Sarma said that wrong things are being said that in Assam Bengali Muslims or Hindus are being killed.

On the authenticity of the video, the senior BJP leader said, “I have personally seen the Facebook page, I have personally seen his speech. Not only me, our police department has also examined those Facebook pages. Prima facie we are satisfied, however, if during the process of investigation, if it comes out to be not true, then it is a different thing. But as of now, we have decided to register a case against Sharjeel Imam.”

“We have to be vigilant and people of Northeast and Assam will not allow anybody to take away Assam out of India. Assam is an integral part of India. Nobody has the authority or right to say that Assam will be carved out of India,” he added.

Commenting on Shaheen Bagh protest, Sarma said that this is the first time that someone is protesting against Hindu people, against Sikh people, against Christian, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis.

“We never protest against Muslim if they are given something special like they have a separate civil court. But this time I am very stranged, that some Muslims as a community have waged a war against Hindus, Jains, Budhists, Christian, Parsi [and Sikhs],” he added.

The senior BJP leader from Assam said that these people have communalised the entire situation in the country. “I think this Shaheen Bagh protest is nothing but a protest against the poor Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Budhhist, [Christian and Jain]. They will be forced to convert their religion in Pakistan and if we want to give them citizenship in India, then also you’ll do Shaheen Bagh [protest]. That means the poor Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhists should be sandwiched between the Muslim in Pakistan and the Muslims of Shaheen Bagh. I think that cannot be allowed.”