07-15-2006, 08:14 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Cong leader defends SIMI in SC</b>
Narendra Kaushik
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpape...006234713\
703713200623462578
Salman Khurshid represents the outfit though it was banned by his
party-led UPA govt in February this year.
Though the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre put a ban on
Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in February this year, it
has not stopped one of the party's senior leaders from vigorously
opposing the ban in the Supreme Court.
Uttar Pradesh Congress president Salman Khurshid represented the group
- widely suspected along with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for Tuesday's
serial blasts in Mumbai - in the Supreme Court this week.
Khurshid, a senior SC lawyer, argued against the Centre's order to put
an immediate ban on the organisation.
The SIMI has, however, withdrawn the petition.
The UPA had set up a one-judge tribunal headed by Delhi High Court
judge B N Chaturvedi to adjudicate whether there was sufficient ground
to justify the ban.
The tribunal has since held hearings in Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.
Almost all these states, including Maharashtra, have alleged SIMI's
links with LeT, Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM) and other fundamentalist
outfits in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and West Asian countries.
In its 11-page-long affidavit filed by Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) ACP
Datta Sambhaji Dhawale in May this year, the Maharashtra government
said, "SIMI, along with LeT, is continuously engaged in unlawful
activities to cause damage to national sovereignty, integrity and
religious harmony in India."
When contacted for his comments on the SIMI's alleged involvement in
the Mumbai blasts, Khurshid said, "Police have their job cut out.
They, along with the judiciary, have to decide on the case."
Asked if he is comfortable representing in court an organisation
allegedly behind terror attacks, he said he finds nothing wrong in it.
"We cannot hold any person or outfit guilty in advance. It is up to
the judiciary. <b>We as leaders are not competent to pronounce anyone
guilty or not guilty,"</b> Khurshid told Mumbai Mirror.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Narendra Kaushik
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpape...006234713\
703713200623462578
Salman Khurshid represents the outfit though it was banned by his
party-led UPA govt in February this year.
Though the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre put a ban on
Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in February this year, it
has not stopped one of the party's senior leaders from vigorously
opposing the ban in the Supreme Court.
Uttar Pradesh Congress president Salman Khurshid represented the group
- widely suspected along with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for Tuesday's
serial blasts in Mumbai - in the Supreme Court this week.
Khurshid, a senior SC lawyer, argued against the Centre's order to put
an immediate ban on the organisation.
The SIMI has, however, withdrawn the petition.
The UPA had set up a one-judge tribunal headed by Delhi High Court
judge B N Chaturvedi to adjudicate whether there was sufficient ground
to justify the ban.
The tribunal has since held hearings in Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.
Almost all these states, including Maharashtra, have alleged SIMI's
links with LeT, Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM) and other fundamentalist
outfits in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and West Asian countries.
In its 11-page-long affidavit filed by Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) ACP
Datta Sambhaji Dhawale in May this year, the Maharashtra government
said, "SIMI, along with LeT, is continuously engaged in unlawful
activities to cause damage to national sovereignty, integrity and
religious harmony in India."
When contacted for his comments on the SIMI's alleged involvement in
the Mumbai blasts, Khurshid said, "Police have their job cut out.
They, along with the judiciary, have to decide on the case."
Asked if he is comfortable representing in court an organisation
allegedly behind terror attacks, he said he finds nothing wrong in it.
"We cannot hold any person or outfit guilty in advance. It is up to
the judiciary. <b>We as leaders are not competent to pronounce anyone
guilty or not guilty,"</b> Khurshid told Mumbai Mirror.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->