Tag: Shafiqur Rehman Barq

  • Samajwadi MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq booked for sedition after remarks defending Taliban

    By PTI

    SAMBHAL: Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq has been booked for sedition following his recent remarks allegedly defending the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and equating it with India”s own freedom struggle, police said on Wednesday.

    He was charged under Indian Penal Code section 124A (sedition) following a complaint from BJP leader Rajesh Singhal on Tuesday, Superintendent of Police Chakresh Mishra said.

    Following registration of the case, Barq on Wednesday said he was quoted out of context and wrong charges have been levelled against him.

    “I am with the policies of India,” he said.

    Singhal in his complaint said that Barq’s “controversial statement comes in the category of sedition”, he said.

    The MP has been also booked under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), Mishra said.

    Besides Barq, two others — Mohammad Muqueem and Chaudhary Faizan, have also been booked under these sections, the officer said, adding that the matter is being probed.

    Following the Sambhal MP’s remarks, Samajwadi Party (SP) workers Muqueem and Faizan posted material on social media in support of the Taliban, according to the FIR.

    Responding to questions from reporters on Monday, Lok Sabha member Barq had said the Taliban wanted to free their country and it was Afghanistan’s internal matter.

    He had called the Taliban a force that did not allow Russia or the United States to establish themselves in Afghanistan, “and now they want to run their own country”.

    The MP had said that when India was under British Rule, the entire country fought for independence.

    “They want to be free. This is their personal matter. How can we interfere?” the SP legislator had said on developments in Afghanistan.

    Endorsing the Taliban takeover, Barq had said the Afghans want to run their own country in the manner they wanted.”

    The remarks drew sharp criticism from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    In the state legislative council, the chief minister on Tuesday slammed the opposition MP.

    “He was shamelessly supporting the Taliban. It means supporting their barbaric act. We are a parliamentary democracy. Where are we heading? We are supporting people who are a blot on humanity,” the CM added.

    Asked to comment on the MP”s remarks, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said he had not personally heard them.

    “But if this type of statement has been given then there is no difference between that person and Imran Khan.”

    Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday had appeared to endorse the Taliban”s takeover of Kabul, saying Afghanistan has broken the “shackles of slavery”.

    Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Barq said, “I have not given any such type of statement, and this is wrong. I was asked questions and I said what connection do I have with the Taliban. I cannot speak on this. Whatever be the policies of my country, I will be with it.”

    “I have nothing to do with the Taliban. I am not a resident of that place (Afghanistan). Who am I to comment on the Taliban? Why should I give my opinion. I was quoted out of context,” he said Asked about the charges levelled against him, Barq said, “Let the case be registered.

    “The allegations levelled against me are completely false. I have not given any such type of statement. Neither I am with the Taliban nor I have praised them nor I have anything to do with them. I am interested in the policies of India and I am with India.”

    He said that the Taliban belongs to Afghanistan and it is the country’s internal matter.

    “I am a voter of India, and I am concerned about India, and its policies,” Barq said.

  • Sedition case against Samajwadi Party MP, two others over pro-Taliban remarks

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The Sambhal police have registered a case on charges of sedition against local Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq for equating the Taliban with India’s freedom fighters. 

    Confirming that a case was lodged against the SP MP, Sambhal Superintendent of Police, Chakresh Mishra said that he had received a complaint against the MP for drawing a parallel between Indian freedom fighters and Taliban. “Such statements qualify as sedition. So an FIR has been registered against the MP under Sections 124A (sedition), 153A, 295 IPC. Two other persons – Faizan Chaudhary and Mohammad Mukeem — had made similar statements in a Face Book video, they have also been booked,” added the Sambhal SP.

    The complaint against the MP and others two was given by a local BJP leader Rajesh Singhal, said the police sources.

    Meanwhile, reacting to the case lodged against him, Barq denied making any such statement. “My statement has been misinterpreted. I am a citizen of India and not of Afghanistan. So I have no business with what is happening there. I support my government policies,’ said the Samajwadi Party MP.

    However, earlier defending the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, Barq had endorsed their action and had equated it with Indian struggle for freedom. He had said that like India fought for her freedom from British, Taliban also wanted to free their country and run it. Calling it an internal matter of Afghanistan, the SP MP had claimed that Taliban was a force which did not allow even strong countries like Russia and America to settle their feet in Afghanistan.

    Barq’s observation had drawn sharp reaction from UP CM Yogi Adityanath. He took the opportunity in the state legislative council to slam the opposition MP over the issue. “He was shamelessly supporting the Taliban. It means supporting their barbaric act.”

    “We are a parliamentary democracy. Where are we heading? We are supporting people who are a blot on humanity,” the CM added.

    Earlier, on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya compared Barq’s comments with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks after Kabul fell to the Taliban. “Anything can happen in the Samajwadi Party. There are people who cannot sing the Jana Gana Mana, someone might support the Taliban, others could level allegations on police after terrorists are caught. This is appeasement,” Maurya said outside the state Assembly.