MARGAO
The Popular Front of India has said the arrest of its members for demonstrating at Margao to mark the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition is a politically motivated action.
PFI Goa unit president, Shaikh Abdul Rauf, informed that the protest was called by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and not by the Popular Front of India.
“The police have falsely booked the Popular Front of India members. Although, the PFI supported the cause of the protest and will always stand to reiterate the demand to arrest the culprits of Babri Masjid demolition, the false FIR against the PFI members is unconstitutional,” he said.
“What’s worse is that the General Secretary of Popular Front of India Goa, Mohammed Imran, who was not even present at the protest site was arrested”, he added.
Alleging that the police is biased, Rauf said they did not initiate action against a gathering outside the Margao Town Police Station and a communally motivated rally was carried out within the city and even surrounded a mosque and raised anti-Muslim slogans.
“Despite repeated complaints, the police failed to register any FIR against the communally motivated mob. And, when a group of minority community raised their legitimate and truthful demands, police decided to book them within couple of hours”, he said, adding “the actions of Goa Police clearly indicate that the enforcement agencies of the State serve only the orders of the ruling political dispensation and, like always, ignore the voices of the minority community and harass its leaders”.
