After sedition charges were registered against Zafarul Islam Khan for his social media post, the Delhi Minority panel Chief on Sunday, 3 May, said that he will continue to fight against the hate politics and that he stands by his comments.
Khan, as quoted by IANS in a statement said, "I will continue, now and in future, the fight against the hate politics in the country. FIRs, arrests and imprisonments do not change this path which I have chosen consciously to save my country, my people and the Indian secular polity and the Constitution."
He was booked under sedition charges by the Delhi Police’s special cell on Thursday, 30 April, for allegedly making ‘provocative’ remarks on social media.
The FIR, based on the complaint by a Vasant Kunj resident, has been filed under Sections 124A (sedition) and 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the Indian Penal Code.
The resident has alleged that Khan’s post was “provocative” in nature and “intended to cause disharmony and create rift in the society,” reported Hindustan Times.
However, according to the daily, Khan has refused to comment on the matter saying that he hasn't seen the FIR yet.
‘Have Apologised for Timing of Tweet, Not Its Content’
Earlier on Friday, 1 May, Khan had taken to Facebook to issue a statement over his 28 April tweet in which he thanked Kuwait for taking cognisance of the “persecution” of Indian Muslims with regard to the violence in Northeast Delhi.
He wrote that he realises that his tweet was “ill-timed” and “pained some people which wasn’t the intention”.
He also said a section of the media “distorted and fabricated” the content of his 28 April tweet and also added “inflammatory opinion to it”.
On Sunday, 3 May, he however said that he has not apologised for the statements he made but only for its timing.
“I stand by it. It has been erroneously reported in a section of media that I have apologised for the tweet and deleted it. I have not apologised for the tweet and have not deleted it. I have apologised not for the tweet itself but because it was ill-timed and insensitive in the midst of a medical emergency faced by our country,” said Khan.
“The tweet is very much there on my Twitter handle and Facebook page. Moreover, I have said in my 1 May statement that I stand by my views and convictions,” he added.
Former Justices, Army Veterans Write to Delhi LG Over Tweets
At least 106 people, including former justices and army veterans have written to Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal regarding the ‘'misconduct of the Chairman of the Delhi Minority Commission’.
In the letter, the signatories have appealed to the Lt Governor to terminate Khan’s remaining tenure as the Minorities Commission Chairman accusing Khan of “blatantly flouted the norms of propriety of conduct of a public servant”.
“Mr Zafarul Islam is completing the term of office in July this year. Keeping in mind his concurrent and recurring potential to abuse the authority bestowed upon him by the law, we plead to your honour that he should not be permitted to complete the term,” the letter reads.
(With inputs from IANS and Hindustan Times)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)