04-18-2006, 11:58 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Journalists up in arms as Imam's brother assaults scribe </b>
Pioneer.com
Praveen Kumer | New Delhi
In a bizarre incident, <b>supporters of Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari on Tuesday manhandled a journalist and abused him after he insisted that the Imam answered a question on Muslim reservations. </b>What's worse, the incident took place at the official residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at 7 Race Course Road, where the Imam had gone to submit a set of recommendations to the Prime Minister.
<b>A complaint was filed by journalists against the Shahi Imam and his brother at the Chanakyapuri police station but till late in evening no FIR had been lodged.</b>
After his meeting with Mr Singh, the Shahi Imam was responding to waiting journalists in the premises of 7 RCR. The journalist was allegedly made a target by Bukhari's supporters after he insisted that the Shahi Imam answer a question relating to reservation of backward classes in Muslims.
The journalist was asking him about the recommendations made by the Mandal Commission for 8.33 per cent quota for minority class among Muslims and whether he had any talks over the issue during his meeting with the Prime Minister." Instead of replying, the Imam reportedly used unparliamentary language and walked away. Later, his brother Yahayah Khan engaged in a scuffle with the journalist and one of his supporters hit the scribe.
<b>Throughout the incident, the SPG personnel posted at the Prime Minister's residence did not stop Bukhari's supporters from assaulting the journalist.</b>
PMO sources defended the role of the SPG saying their job was only to protect the Prime Minister and the law and order was dealt by Delhi <b>Police. Press Club of India secretary general Chitrita Sanyal condemning the act said, "The security men posted here were mute spectators and did not make any efforts in stopping the assaulting supporters of Bukhari. Journalists are frequently attacked. We urge that this should be looked into seriously and necessary steps taken to ensure safety of journalists."</b>
Later, Home Minister Shivraj Patil who was emerging out of a Cabinet meeting told journalists that he would look into the matter and do the needful.
<b>BJP condemned the assault on the journalist saying it smacked of "fascism" and was the outcome of encouragement given to such elements by "secular" political parties. "The action of the Imam's supporters clearly show that they do not believe in a secular, democratic country but in a fundamentalist Islamic country. The behaviour is the outcome of encouragement given to such elements by the so-called secular political parties," vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said. Among others who condemned the assault were former BJP leader Uma Bharati.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pioneer.com
Praveen Kumer | New Delhi
In a bizarre incident, <b>supporters of Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari on Tuesday manhandled a journalist and abused him after he insisted that the Imam answered a question on Muslim reservations. </b>What's worse, the incident took place at the official residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at 7 Race Course Road, where the Imam had gone to submit a set of recommendations to the Prime Minister.
<b>A complaint was filed by journalists against the Shahi Imam and his brother at the Chanakyapuri police station but till late in evening no FIR had been lodged.</b>
After his meeting with Mr Singh, the Shahi Imam was responding to waiting journalists in the premises of 7 RCR. The journalist was allegedly made a target by Bukhari's supporters after he insisted that the Shahi Imam answer a question relating to reservation of backward classes in Muslims.
The journalist was asking him about the recommendations made by the Mandal Commission for 8.33 per cent quota for minority class among Muslims and whether he had any talks over the issue during his meeting with the Prime Minister." Instead of replying, the Imam reportedly used unparliamentary language and walked away. Later, his brother Yahayah Khan engaged in a scuffle with the journalist and one of his supporters hit the scribe.
<b>Throughout the incident, the SPG personnel posted at the Prime Minister's residence did not stop Bukhari's supporters from assaulting the journalist.</b>
PMO sources defended the role of the SPG saying their job was only to protect the Prime Minister and the law and order was dealt by Delhi <b>Police. Press Club of India secretary general Chitrita Sanyal condemning the act said, "The security men posted here were mute spectators and did not make any efforts in stopping the assaulting supporters of Bukhari. Journalists are frequently attacked. We urge that this should be looked into seriously and necessary steps taken to ensure safety of journalists."</b>
Later, Home Minister Shivraj Patil who was emerging out of a Cabinet meeting told journalists that he would look into the matter and do the needful.
<b>BJP condemned the assault on the journalist saying it smacked of "fascism" and was the outcome of encouragement given to such elements by "secular" political parties. "The action of the Imam's supporters clearly show that they do not believe in a secular, democratic country but in a fundamentalist Islamic country. The behaviour is the outcome of encouragement given to such elements by the so-called secular political parties," vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said. Among others who condemned the assault were former BJP leader Uma Bharati.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->