Agra mufti framed in I-Day case, say protesters

Agra: A large number of people staged a protest at the collectorate here on Thursday to press for withdrawal of an FIR registered against the city mufti and his son for allegedly opposing flag-hoisting and rendition of the national anthem inside the Jama Masjid premises on Independence Day. Some markets were also closed as a mark of protest.

Aslam Qureshi, chairperson of the mosque management committee, had filed a police complaint to the effect against the Mufti Mazidul Kudhush Khubaeb Rumi and his son Hummdul Khudhush.

Handing over a memorandum to the SSP, local Muslim leaders demanded a case to be registered against Aslam Qureshi for framing the mufti and his son.

Leading the protesters, vice-president of the All India Jamaitul Quresh, Jamiluddin Qureshi claimed , “The shahr mufti had never opposed hoisting of the national flag but merely suggested that flag-hoisting should not be done at a sacred space where namaz is offered.”

He alleged, “The shahr mufti has been framed in a wrong and false case when in fact is that the fault lies on the part of organizer of the event, Aslam Qureshi, who is chairman of the Local Islamia Agency, and Ashfaq Saifi, chairman of the UP Minority Commission who was chief guest of event organized within Jama Masjid on Independence Day. The Jama Masjid premises has its own sanctity and has been dragged into a controversy needlessly by organizing such an event.”

Sources revealed that senior Muslim leaders in Agra had made efforts on Wednesday night to end the controversy by demanding that Aslam Qureshi withdraw his complaint.

‘The Independence Day event was opposed and the Tricolor was insulted merely because the chief guest and chairman of the minority commission is from BJP. I appeal that a case of sedition be registered against the shahr mufti,” said Aslam Qureshi on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Muniraj G, Agra SSP, ordered the registration of an FIR against the protestors for violation of CrPC Section 144 and Covid-19 protocol.

``An FIR is being registered against those who lodged the protest on Thursday for violation of CrPC section and the Epidemic Diseases Act,” said Vinod Kumar, in charge of Mantola police station.