‘Bring law on lines of ‘SC/ST Act’ to protect Muslims’

Dehradun: Hundreds of people from the Muslim community on Sunday held a protest in

Dehradun

alleging harassment by the government and demanding a law on the lines of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to safeguard the minority population.

Slamming the arrest of cleric Kaleem Siddiqui by Uttar Pradesh Police on charges of running a “conversion racket”, the protesters claimed that the government was carrying out such operations to harass people of the minority community.

One of the speakers at the event, Naeem Qureshi, president of the Muslim Seva Sangathan, told TOI, “The arrest of Kaleem Siddiqui is illegal. Article 25 of the Constitution allows citizens to peacefully promote his/her religion. But Muslims and Dalits are not allowed to exercise their constitutional rights.”

He also demanded that cow should be declared a national animal.

“Cow’s killing should be banned across the country. But the government is not prohibiting its consumption in states like Goa and some northeastern states where BJP is in power. It is a double standard,” he said.

Qureshi said that a ‘Muslim Act’ should be enacted on the lines of ‘SC/ST Act’ and people who use derogatory slurs against Muslims should be booked.

Addressing the gathering, ‘Shahar Qazi’ Mohammad Ahmed Qasmi said, “The duty of the government is to protect the rights of each of its citizens. But hate crimes against Muslims and Dalits have increased.”