The Supreme Court on 8 August cautioned non-governmental organisation, Jayati Bharatam, from making allegations that could disturb the country’s secular fabric. Hearing a writ petition filed by the NGO, seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into incidents of conversion of Hindu girls to Islam, the three-judge Bench of Chief Justice R.M. Lodha and Justices Kurian Joseph and Rohinton Nariman said making averments without any supporting material would disturb the country’s secular fabric.
The CJI told counsel Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the NGO, that “this is a secular State. Don’t try to bring religion into the court. We are also concerned with the matter and you are also saying it is serious. But the colour which you are giving is also concerning us. We are concerned with the law point. You should not do anything or do anything by word of mouth which disturbs peace. We are a secular state and everything should be done that protects the secular fabric. Nobody should do things to disturb the secular fabric.”
‘PERMIT’ MOVE TO TASLIMA HURTS MUSLIMS
The Muslim community in West Bengal has come down severely on the BJP-led Centre for ‘promising’ author Taslima Nasreen to grant resident permit. Ms Nasreen had told the media that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on 2 August ‘promised’ to extend usual ‘resident permit’ to her. Claiming that the Centre had hurt the Muslim population’s sentiments with this decision, Trinamool Congress MP Idris Ali told the media that Ms. Nasreen has gained popularity only by criticising Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) and writing offensive things about the Islamic religion. Granting her visa would mean encouraging divisive politics in the country, he said.