‘I Met the Doctors to Enquire on Quraishi’ – Minister Khader
Mangaluru: “An investigation officer will be appointed to investigate the torture on Ahmed Quraishi and the lathi charge on the protesters of various Muslim organizations. It is common to target the ministers. People throw stones to the Mango tree and not the Banyan tree”, said the minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader in a press meet held at Circuit House here on April 10.
Addressing the media persons Khader said, “This is not the first time people have targetted me. I had gone to the hospital to see Quraishi on humanitarian grounds. When Quraishi’s brother had met me, he said even though Quraishi was not in any organization he was tortured by the police. We should know the real cause of the incident. I have also visited ASI Aithappa in the hospital. No one is above the law, the law is equal to everyone. The Home Minister has assured of enquiring Quraishi’s health and the allegations on the police about the torture on Quraishi.”
When asked about Quraishi’s involvement in any organizations, Khader said, “The family members have said that Quraishi is not a member of the PFI or any other organization. He is not involved in any anti-social activities. I do not know whether he is involved in any crime or not. Investigations are on and at present, I cannot comment on it.”
When questioned on the reason for Quraishi’s kidney failure, whether it is because of the torture by the Police, Khader said, “When I enquired with the police department, I got a different statement, In this case, we need to get the report from the doctors and not from the police. Doctors should give a proper report. I did not go to the room to see the patient. I met the doctors at the hospital and enquired with them about Quraishi’s health. What I discussed with on Quraishi’s health cannot be revealed.”
There is an allegation on the state government about the Lathi charge on the protesters, Whether the lathi charge on the protesters was right or wrong, Khader said, “I have got a lot of information about it which I cannot reveal to the media. Being a minister I have the responsibility, the information I have received will be passed on to the concerned authorities. I cannot take any decision on the matter as the investigation is going on. Media should not create fear among the people. Media should see that the society is united and not divided.”
When asked Why don’t you consider it as an attack on the Minority, Khader said, “No one is above the law, whoever is involved in crime, the government is committed to punish them.
In a meeting of the PFI and the leaders of the minority community had said, “60% of the police force consists of the RSS”, is it true? Khader said, “People blame the police for everything, they do not think of the sacrifice and service the police make, putting their life at risk to provide us safety. It is not right to blame the entire department for the mistake made by a few police in the department,” said Khader.
When asked whether the Police department has been saffronized, Khader said, “How can a department be saffronized. If one or two police make mistakes, we cannot blame the entire police department. There may be few individuals but we should not blame the entire department, we need to identify those policemen who are taking the law into their hands and punish them”.
Answering the question on pressurizing the government to ban the PFI, Khader said, “The union government should decide on it since PFI is a national organization. Justice should be given to everyone”.