Madhya Pradesh Violence: Muslim community will go to High Court against Shivraj government's 'sabotage' campaign, Qazi said - unilateral action is being taken

The matter of the campaign of the MP government to destroy the hideouts of the accused involved in the Ram Navami violence on April 10 in Khargone and some other places in Madhya Pradesh is now about to reach the High Court. Some members of the Muslim community have decided to approach the High Court against the sabotage campaign of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of Madhya Pradesh.

A cleric from Madhya Pradesh said the demolition drive has left many people homeless. He asked the state government why the family members of those allegedly involved in the riots were being punished. The state government has launched a drive to vandalize allegedly 'illegal' property of those involved in stone-pelting and other types of violence during Ram Navami processions.

The Qazi of Bhopal said this

Several Muslim religious leaders in the state had earlier alleged that community members are being unfairly targeted by the authorities after the violence and in some cases, houses are being vandalized without due process. Qazi Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadvi of Bhopal city said on Saturday, 'I have asked the lawyers of my community to approach the High Court against the selective sabotage drive going on in the state. We are going to move the High Court against this unilateral campaign.

'Why should the family of the perpetrator get punishment?'

On the question of how many houses of Muslims have been demolished in Khargone so far, he said that it would be known only after the curfew is lifted. The cleric said, 'Society is run by law. The perpetrator of the crime should be punished, not his family. If one member of the family commits some mistake then why are houses being demolished? He said that many families have been rendered homeless due to this campaign.

Nadvi's CCTV Plan

Earlier on Thursday, Nadvi had said, 'We have started installing CCTV cameras (in mosques) in Bhopal. I have requested clerics to do the same in entire Madhya Pradesh. CCTV cameras will crackdown on stone-throwers. Nadvi said the CCTV footage would reveal from where the stones were thrown during such incidents. He also said that the demolition of "illegal structures" of those allegedly involved in the violence in Khargone is completely wrong.

Shivraj gave a strict warning

Earlier this week, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had warned that his government would not spare anyone found involved in the riots. He had also justified the action of 'demolition of illegal houses' belonging to those allegedly involved in Khargone violence. On Sunday 10 April, incidents of arson and violence followed stone-pelting on the Ram Navami procession in Khargone, following which a curfew was imposed in the city.

Also Read: First CCTV footage of Khargone riots Masked rioters broke into the temple and houses, a soldier was stationed to stop; The city got burnt in a few minutes