Bhatkal Muslim delegation meets Union Home Minister Chidambaram

Bhatkal Muslim delegation meets Union Home Minister Chidambaram

Mangalore Today News Network

Bhatkal, April  3, 2012 : A delegation comprising members of Muslim organizations such as Majlise Islah-o-tanzeem, Bhatkal Muslim Jamath, and Gulf Council, under the leadership of S. M. Syed Khaleelurrahman, the chairman of the Anjuman Hami-ye Muslimeen, met Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram on Monday in New Delhi.

The purpose of the visit was a news report published by the Times of India, according to which Bhatkal has a dump of RDX explosives, which was later rubbished by the Uttara Kannada District Police. The delegation submitted a memorandum to the union home minister, in which they stated that attempts are being made by the media to defame the entire coastal town of Bhatkal just because three residents of Bhatkal are allegedly involved in terrorist activities.

The memorandum further stated that the Muslims of Bhatkal are being unfairly linked to the Indian Mujahideen by the media and top intelligence officers have already rubbished such media reports.

The delegation also brought the union home minister’s attention to the fact that the residents of Bhatkal are being unfairly harassed by the police during passport issuing procedures and that customs officers at the airport have allegedly harassed the residents of Bhatkal.

The meeting lasted for one hour. After listening to the delegation carefully, the minister suggested that they can move court if they feel offended by the media reports.

Parvez Khasimji, the president of the Majlise Islah-o-tanzeen; Yunis Khazia, the general secretary of the Gulf Council; Mohammed Muzammil Khazia, the former tanzeem president; S. M. Syed Raees, a member of the Bhatkal Muslim Jamath Dubai; and Inayatullah Gavayi, the editor of Sahil.com, were the members of the delegation, which also met Rahman Khan, deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha.