Anwar demands Shahi Imam Bukhari's immediate arrest

New Delhi, Apr 19 (UNI) National President of the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj and Janata Dal(U) MP Ali Anwar today strongly condemned the manner in which Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari scuffled with the reporters at the Prime Minister's residence yesterday.

In a statement released here, Mr Anwar said, ''The silence observed by the securitymen at the PM's residence was shameful.'' ''For creating 'Muslim Vote Bank' the Congress government not only accedes to opportunists like Mr Bukhari but also encourages shady characters,'' he said.

Due to the Dalit and Pasmanda Muslim movement, several leaders and Ulemas across the country have been behaving in a violent manner. In the same manner, members of Pasmanda and Dalit community were beaten up during the visit of a high-level committee chaired by Justice Rajinder Sachchar in Patna last month, he alleged.

''Dalit and backward Muslim movement cannot be suppressed due to such acts of vandalism,'' the statement added.

The manner in which Mr Bukhari and his people attacked the reporters is viewed as an assault on backward and Dalit Muslims, he said.

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