Press Statement Issued by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad
National Spokesperson & MP

Responsibility Be Fixed And Action Be Taken In The Casual And Negligent Way In Which SIMI Ban Was Pursued By The Home Ministry Before The Tribunal And The Election Commission Must Take Cognizance of The Public Statements Made By Presidents of Different Political Parties Supporting SIMI

The Latest affidavit filed by the Central Government before the Supreme Court States that over 400 cases have been registered against members of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for indulging in unlawful activities and blasts in various places across the Country including the July 26 serial blasts in Ahmedabad. As per the affidavit about 349 cases were registered before February 2006 and thereafter 60 new cases have been registered. The affidavit further states that in the Mumbai serial blasts in local trains in which 187 people lost their lives, SIMI was the major conspirator. Similarly, in the Malegaon blast in September 2006 too in which 31 innocent people were killed, SIMI had played a major role. The affidavit explains in details, the training of their leaders in Pakistan and Bangladesh and the conspiracy they designed in various parts of the Country to subvert the integrity and sovereignty of the nation.

It is evident that apart from the recent Ahmedabad blast rest all are cases of serious terror attack of the year 2006/2007 and early 2008. The question arises why materials in this regard were not properly presented before the Tribunal which was considering the validity of the ban under the Unlawful Act 1967.The Judge has also commented that material and documents are not being furnished. The country is entitled to know as to why those facts which are now being presented before the Supreme Court were not properly brought before the Tribunal. This is a very serious lapse. Someone somewhere upon some consideration was trying to help SIMI. It is a question of the security and integrity of the nation in which no compromise can be allowed. The BJP demands that this serious lapse be enquired into forthwith, responsibility be fixed and punishment be given forthwith.

There is one more issue of dangerous implication for the Country. In spite of the fact that SIMI does not believe in the Constitution of India, is determined to weaken India through the instrument of terror, which the Government of India has itself stated on affidavit in the Supreme Court, three Presidents of recognised political parties, who are allied with the Congress namely Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Shri Laloo Prasad (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and Shri Ram Vilas Paswan (Lok Jansakti Party) have openly and publicly supported SIMI and have alleged that they are being victimised. They have also described SIMI as a social organisation. Of these two are Senior Ministers of the UPA Government. In the light of this affidavit the BJP would like to ask as to why the Prime Minister and the Congress President are maintaining a silence? It is a gross failure of the principle of collective responsibility of the Cabinet.

There remains a further issue of far reaching importance. Under Section 29-A of the Representation of People Act 1951, there is a provision for registration of Political Parties. As per this provision, in the application for registration apart from the Rule & Regulations of the Party, strength of its members etc., the Party has to specifically mention in the Party’s Regulation (As per Section 29-A(5) that the Party shall bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India. All the three political parties i.e. SP, RJD and LJP are duly registered political parties and yet their National Presidents are openly supporting and advocating the cause of SIMI which does not believe in the Constitution of India and is determined to destroy the unity and integrity of India. The BJP demands that the Election Commission must take cognizance of these public stands of the Presidents of these parties and take suitable steps which it may deem fit and proper.

(Shyam Jaju)
Headquarter Incharge