CJP to file writ petition against Taslima's attackers

Mumbai, Aug 14 (UNI) Leading rights activist Teesta Setalvad today said the ''Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)'', a forum combatting communalism, will file a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking disqualification of the Majlis-e-Ithehadul-Muslimeen (MIM) legislators for physically attacking exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen in Hyderabad.

She said that the CJP will also intervene in a similar writ petition filed by Telugu writer G L Narsimha Rao, requesting directions that serious sections of criminal law, including 295A and 153A of the IPC be included in the cases already lodged against the offenders to strengthen the case.

Ms Setalvad said the public interest writ petition will be filed within ten days. The petition will invoke the extraordinary jurisdiction of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution stating that the court must excercise the implicit right to recall a legislator and the Speaker of the Assembly should be directed to this effect.

St Xaviers College Professor for Islamic Studies Dr Zeenat Shakaut Ali voiced support for the CJP's writ petition and said the MIM or their leader Mohammed Owaisi do not represent Muslims of the country nor was he speaking at their behest.

''The Muslims of the country are pained by the actions of the MIM and its elected members and they have done more damage than defending the cause of Islam by attacking the foreign writer,'' he said.

Adman Alyque Padamsee questioned whether the elected MIM members were with the citizens of India or a part of the larger ''goonda'' elements.

''There are ways to protest. If the MIM is offended by Nasreen and her writings, they should resort to lawful means to get their grievances addressed,'' he said.

UNI