Islamism - 4

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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The Times of India from Lucknow reports:-
Publication: Times Of India Lucknow; Date:2006 Feb 18; Section:Front Page; Page Number 1 
Minister’s Rs 51-cr toon bounty sparks outrage

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
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Lucknow: In a shocking demand, UP cabinet minister and senior Samajwadi Party leader Mohammed Yaqoob Qureshi on Friday called for the beheading of the cartoonist who had sketched Prophet Mohammed for a Danish newspaper and announced that he would give ‘‘the avenger’’ Rs 51 crore and weigh him in gold.
   And pre-empting the question about where he’d get the money, the minister for Haj told a protest rally in Meerut that the money would be collected from the people of Meerut and that Muslim women were ready to sell their gold ornaments to ‘‘reward’’ any would-be assassin.
   Yaqoob’s public statement sent ripples through Lucknow and Samajwadi Party as well as Muslim leaders moved to distance themselves from it. But the state government refused to say whether it planned any action for what was clearly an invitation for a contract killing in a foreign land. Muslim leaders in Lucknow said Yaqoob’s appeared to be cheap gimmick.
   Strangely, chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was not ready to comment on Yaqoob’s outrageous demand, and Samajwadi Party was cautious not to be seen as dismissive of Yaqoob. Party leaders, speaking off the record, said the minister was probably just responding to a charged atmosphere. SP general secretary Amar Singh said, ‘‘I would exercise my restraint in giving any reaction because it may have far-reaching implications.’’
   Addressing a crowd of over 25,000 that had gathered at Meerut’s Sadar Ground after Friday prayers to protest against portrayal of the Prophet in Danish cartoons, a visibly excited Yaqoob declared that whosoever would get him the head of the Danish cartoonist would be rewarded.
   ‘‘Whosoever it is, be it a Pakistani, an Iraqi or an American,’’ Yaqoob said. A moment later he added, ‘‘The money will be paid by the people of Meerut.’’
   However, religious clerics and prominent Muslims made light of Yaqoob Qureshi’s call.
   ‘‘Anyone who does anything wrong has to be punished under the law of the land to which he belongs,’’ said Idgah Imam Maulana Khalid Rasheed.

Law provides for    seven-year jail   

His call for murder of the Danish cartoonist may land Mohammed Yaqkoob Qureshi in trouble. He is liable to be arrested for violating a host of IPC provisions.
   He falls foul of Section 115, which penalises “abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life — if offence not committed.” Under this provision, he is liable to be jailed for seven years. P7

Clerics flay Qureshi


Lucknow: religious clerics and prominent Muslims on Friday made light of senior Samajwadi Party leader Mohammed Yaqoob Qureshi’s call for the beheading of the cartoonist who had sketched Prophet Mohammed for a Danish newspaper.
   ‘‘Anyone who does anything wrong has to be punished under the law of the land to which he belongs,’’ pointed out Idgah Imam Maulana Khalid Rasheed. ‘‘Such statements only go on to help those targeting Muslims across the world. This will be an opportunity to accuse minorities of violent thoughts.’’ All India Muslim Personal Board also dismissed the minister’s statement. ‘‘In our religion, the authority to pronounce a judgment rests only with a qazi and no one else,’’ said board member Zafaryab Jilani. ‘‘Had such a statement originated from a native of an Islamic country, then under the laws of that country it could have been justified, but not in India.’’UP principal secretary Alok Sinha came out with the twisted alibi for the minister that no offence was made out against him since he had not called for the killing of anybody inside country. TNN </b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


The reaction and views of the other leaders is a reflection of the strength of India's democratic institutions and secular credentials.