 |
||
|
||
|
||
At an informal meeting with journalists during a visit to The Times of India offices here, Mr Bhujbal said his government had sufficient evidence on the basis of which SIMI could be banned. However, there was no point banning it in only one state. The ban should be imposed throughout the country and the state government had written to the Centre to take an early decision in this regard, Mr Bhujbal said.
Mr Bhujbal alleged that SIMI activists had played a major role in the Kanishka air crash in 1984 which claimed several lives. The prime conspirator, Mankit Singh (aka Lalsingh), had told central investigating agencies that he was funded by SIMI.
In another case in Gujarat, the police had arrested a group of SIMI activists and recovered weapons worth Rs 2 crore. In a recent incident, the Mumbai police arrested 13 SIMI activists and recovered several incriminating documents and cassettes containing inflammatory speeches. He said the speeches contained provocative references to other religions. “Aren't these enough to convince the Union government about SIMI's anti-national nature?” he asked.
Mr Bhujbal said that the Centre had written to him stating that it was “looking into” his demand for a ban on SIMI. “The ball is now in the Centre's court,” he added.
The deputy chief minister said he was not being biased against a particular Islamic group. “Any organisation, whether Hindu or Muslim, which is found to be indulging in anti-national activities will not be spared,” he emphasised.
Asked why the police had only arrested film financier Bharat Shah and not other film personalities believed to have links with the underworld, Mr Bhujbal replied, “In Shah's case, we had enough evidence to show that he had links with the underworld. If we get similar evidence against other persons in the film industry, they too will not be spared. Besides, Shah's arrest has proved to be a deterrent to several persons with underworld connections. The Maharashtra Control Of Organised Crime Act has been effective in curbing the underworld's activities,” he said.
When reminded that the Mumbai traffic police was without a chief for nearly a month now, Mr Bhujbal said, “I am appointing a new chief in the next few days. In fact, joint commissioner A.N. Roy, who headed the traffic branch earlier, was moved out because he was due for a promotion. A promotion normally entails a transfer. We are waiting for a few more promotions and transfers before we decide on the new incumbent for the post.”
Commenting on the implementation
of the Justice Srikrishna report on the post-Ayodhya flare-up in Mumbai,
he said, “The special task force (STF) of the city police has already taken
action against certain police officers indicted by the commission. We are
in the process of filing new cases against others indicted in the report.
The STF has been given two more months during which it will record statements
of witnesses and collect evidence before deciding on the prosecution,”
he added.
|
||
|
||
|
||