New Delhi: In a manner to counter not-so-emphatic voice in Indian politics of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today came out with some 'revelations' about Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) claiming that the organization has become dangerous for national security and safety. Modi said that the interrogation of the SIMI activists allegedly involved in Ahmedabad blasts that killed more than fifty people, revealed that the banned outfit shares the dreams of Taliban and wants to establish an Islamic Caliphate in India toppling secular and democratic constitution of India. Paswan had earlier opposed the ban on SIMI and termed it a socio-religious organisation.
Modi said that in its effort to reach the root of Ahmedabad serial blasts conspiracy, the Gujarat Police searched states from Kerala to Jammu & Kashmir. He said, "The findings are very serious in nature and reveals the true character of SIMI and Indian Mujahideen (IM). I have apprised the Prime Minister of every detail about SIMI. National Security Advisor was also present during the meeting and he nodded as affirmative gesture on most of the points about the dangerous designs of SIMI." But, somehow they managed to go careless in putting evidences against SIMI before the Tribunal that revoked ban on it, Modi added.
Modi further said, "I have knowledge, from the interrogation of the arrested SIMI activists, that Indian Mujahideen has established very good networks at grassroot level in at least nine states including four in the southern part of the country." The striking difference between recruitment to SIMI and Indian Mujahideen is the fact that former recruits youth below 30 years of age whereas IM recruits youth over 30 years of age. However, he refused to divulge more information saying it would hamper investigation process in Gujarat.
Taking shot on the UPA government for not giving assent to Gujarat Control of Organized Crime Bill, (GUJCOCB), Modi said that while they don't have any objection to Maharashtra having the same law but for the same crime they want Gujarat to operate under regular laws. He dared the UPA government of rejecting the Bill so that "we could take further action".\
In response to question as to what are the options available with the state government if the Centre does not give assent to the Bill, he said, "They are killing time by sitting over it. But, there is no alternative with any state government because this is the route to reach there," adding, "The alternative, if any, is to re-enact POTA."Strict laws are required to keep youths from good families from entering into outfits like SIMI.
SIMI was formed in 1977 at Aligarh as a student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. Inspired by the Islamic Revolution in Iran and Deoband school of revival of Islam in India, the SIMI stood for radical social change in India and the waging of Jihad in India, an approach not appreciated by the leadership of JIH.
Its slogan is, "Allah is our Lord, Qur'an is our constitution, Muhammad is our leader, Jihad is our way and Shahadah is our desire". This is the same as Modi revealed based on the interrogation of arrested SIMI activists. SIMI's terrorist activities have increased under present chief Safdar Nagauri. SIMI, with its new avatar Indian Mujahideen, alleged to have been involved in several bomb blasts including those of Varanasi, Malegaon, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangaluru and Jaipur.
It is a banned outfit in India for its anti-national acts of terror since 2001. However, in August, 2008 a Tribunal lifted ban on it citing lack of evidences produced before it. The central government, then approached the Supreme Court and filed an affidavit recording the activities of SIMI, on the basis of which the apex court stayed the order of the Tribunal and extended the ban for six weeks.
Modi said that in its effort to reach the root of Ahmedabad serial blasts conspiracy, the Gujarat Police searched states from Kerala to Jammu & Kashmir. He said, "The findings are very serious in nature and reveals the true character of SIMI and Indian Mujahideen (IM). I have apprised the Prime Minister of every detail about SIMI. National Security Advisor was also present during the meeting and he nodded as affirmative gesture on most of the points about the dangerous designs of SIMI." But, somehow they managed to go careless in putting evidences against SIMI before the Tribunal that revoked ban on it, Modi added.
Modi further said, "I have knowledge, from the interrogation of the arrested SIMI activists, that Indian Mujahideen has established very good networks at grassroot level in at least nine states including four in the southern part of the country." The striking difference between recruitment to SIMI and Indian Mujahideen is the fact that former recruits youth below 30 years of age whereas IM recruits youth over 30 years of age. However, he refused to divulge more information saying it would hamper investigation process in Gujarat.
Strict law required
Taking shot on the UPA government for not giving assent to Gujarat Control of Organized Crime Bill, (GUJCOCB), Modi said that while they don't have any objection to Maharashtra having the same law but for the same crime they want Gujarat to operate under regular laws. He dared the UPA government of rejecting the Bill so that "we could take further action".\
In response to question as to what are the options available with the state government if the Centre does not give assent to the Bill, he said, "They are killing time by sitting over it. But, there is no alternative with any state government because this is the route to reach there," adding, "The alternative, if any, is to re-enact POTA."Strict laws are required to keep youths from good families from entering into outfits like SIMI.
SIMI was formed in 1977 at Aligarh as a student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. Inspired by the Islamic Revolution in Iran and Deoband school of revival of Islam in India, the SIMI stood for radical social change in India and the waging of Jihad in India, an approach not appreciated by the leadership of JIH.
Its slogan is, "Allah is our Lord, Qur'an is our constitution, Muhammad is our leader, Jihad is our way and Shahadah is our desire". This is the same as Modi revealed based on the interrogation of arrested SIMI activists. SIMI's terrorist activities have increased under present chief Safdar Nagauri. SIMI, with its new avatar Indian Mujahideen, alleged to have been involved in several bomb blasts including those of Varanasi, Malegaon, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangaluru and Jaipur.
It is a banned outfit in India for its anti-national acts of terror since 2001. However, in August, 2008 a Tribunal lifted ban on it citing lack of evidences produced before it. The central government, then approached the Supreme Court and filed an affidavit recording the activities of SIMI, on the basis of which the apex court stayed the order of the Tribunal and extended the ban for six weeks.
(ArticlesBase SC #549959)
