Muslims should bury their differences and unite: P B D’Sa

Mangaluru, Oct 13: P B D’Sa, national vice-president of People's Union for Civil Liberties has called upon the Muslims to bury their internal differences and unite when their community faces external threats.

He was addressing a protest meet organised by an outfit called ‘Dakshina Kannada Muslim Sanghatanegala Okkoota’ at Nehru Maidan in the city on Friday afternoon against the desecration of Quran allegedly committed by the policemen during a raid on the house of a murder accused in Bantwal taluk over a month ago.

He said that even though policemen have rubbished the allegation and argued that the family members of the accused or a newspaper reporter might have desecrated Quran to divert attention, their claim is far from truth. “In my five decade long struggle in the field of human rights I have realised that the policemen always tell blatant lies,” he said.

Moulana Zafar Sadiq Faizi, state general secretary of Imams' Council, said that Muslim community in Dakshina Kannada has been targeted for the faults of others. He said that in the name of investigation the police are harassing innocent Muslims. On the other hand the elected representatives are also ignoring the Muslim community, he said.

“In Bantwal Quran desecration case, we submitted a memorandum to the district in-charge minister, the home minister and the chief minister seeking justice. But, they did not do anything except giving assurances,” he added.

Yaqoob Sa’adi, DK district president of SSF, said that the condemnable action of police and silence of politicians forced them to stage a protest.

Okkoota president and former Managluru Mayor K Ashraf said that they would continue the agitation until those insulted Quran get arrested. Suhail Kandak, Ashraf Kinara, Hameed Kandak, Hameed Kudroli were present among others.