Protest mounts on alleged “Pakistan Zindabad” slogan in Ajmal’s presence; reactions for & against pour in
আজমলকে স্বাগত জানিয়ে পাকিস্তান জিন্দাবাদ ধ্বনি! পক্ষে-বিপক্ষে প্রতিক্রিয়া

Nov. 6: A huge controversy have surfaced with allegations of “Pakistan zindabad” slogan by some supporters of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) at Silchar Airport on Thursday while greeting party chief and MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal. Though the incident took place on Thursday, but it came to light on Friday after a 1.12-minute video of the incident has gone viral on social media. Very soon the incident spread far and wide like wild fire and was even made a news item by the national media.

The incident have triggered protests across Assam. Expressing deep resentment, Silchar MP Dr. Rajdeep Roy said, “Yesterday we have seen how the supporters of Badruddin Ajmal shouted ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogan while greeting him at Silchar Airport. We denounce this incident in strong terms. It is for such incidents that the development of minorities in the country has become impossible. Congress is using these minorities as their vote bank. At the same time, I on behalf of BJP raise the strong demand to look into the videos of the incident which has gone viral in social media and take strict action against those involved in it. I further demand that Maulana Badruddin Ajmal should take the moral responsibility for this and resign immediately from the Indian Parliament.

Meanwhile, Assam BJP heavyweight Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma was also quick to react. In a tweet on Friday morning, Biswa Sarma wrote, “Look at the brazenness of these fundamentalists anti-national people who are shouting PAKISTAN ZINDABAD while they welcome MP @BadruddinAjmal. This thoroughly exposes @INCIndia which is encouraging such forces by forging an alliance. We shall fight them tooth & nail. Jai Hind.”

We have asked @assampolice to investigate the matter under all the laws: @himantabiswa on anti India slogans in Silchar pic.twitter.com/yFONvTyzfJ

— Payal Mehta/પાયલ મેહતા/ पायल मेहता/ পাযেল মেহতা (@payalmehta100) November 6, 2020

Later on speaking to newsmen, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We have asked @assampolice to investigate the matter under all the laws on anti India slogans in Silchar and nab the culprits who have raised ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogan. Earlier, they did not utter such things in public, but now they are raising such things in public like ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogan, Miyan Museum, Blue Lungi, Miyan School etc.”

Meanwhile, multiple FIR’s were lodged by right wing leaders including Silchar MP Dr. Rajdeep Roy at Silchar Police Station. Rohit Chanda on behalf of ABVP Silchar Unit filed an FIR at Silchar Sadar Police Station. Another FIR was lodged on behalf on Cachar VHP. Strong demand was raised in these FIR’s to identify the person who raised  ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogan on Thursday and book the guilty immediately. Rohit Chanda said, “If prompt action is not taken by the Police, then ABVP will launch a vigorous movement.”

On behalf of Dr. Rajdeep Roy, an FIR was lodged by Pulok Das at Silchar Sadar Police Station, In the FIR, he wrote, “It has come to my knowledge by wide circulation of a Video footage of Silchar Airport while a huge number of supporters were gathered to welcome their leader Badar Uddin Azmal and shouted with a slogan ” Pakistan Zindabad” , I being a responsible citizen of the country strongly condemn such type of anti national activities created by Badar Uddin Azmal and his supporters in his presence. I urge upon the police administration and district administration to enquire the matter properly and identify such type of anti national people immediately and take exemplary action against them.”

However, in a press meet conveyed by AIDUF on Friday, the allegations were denied. They said, “There were many aspiring candidates along with thousands of followers yesterday at Kumbhirgram Airport, Silchar to receive our beloved leader Maulana Badruddin Azmal, Hon’ble MP Dhubri and President AIUDF on his visit to Barak Valley. Among the party workers there were supporters of Aziz Khan, Hon’ble MLA South Karimganj who made slogans as “Aziz Khan Jindabad”, which intentionally was marketed by BJP and the ring wing supporters as ‘Pakistan Zindabad.’ This is nothing but a conspiracy made by the BJP. Let the police do an impartial enquiry. We cannot imagine that BJP can go to such low level. Actually, BJP has got scared of the grand alliance which would come up before the polls and so are trying to fool the people by raising such false and baseless issues.” AIUDF urged people to watch the video putting on earphones, which would make things very clear.

Meanwhile, the police has immediately jumped into action. Bhanwar Lal Meena, Superintendent of Police, Cachar has said that his team will look into the videos recorded at Silchar Airport on Thursday and discern the truth of the matter very soon.