New Delhi, April 16: Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ziaur Rehman Barq on Wednesday appeared before the three-member judicial commission in Lucknow, which is probing the violence that erupted in UP’s Sambhal on November 24, last year.

The violence took place during a court-mandated ASI survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, and Barq has been accused of delivering an inflammatory speech that allegedly incited unrest.

Speaking ahead of his appearance, Barq maintained his innocence and expressed faith in the judiciary.

“Today, I am appearing before the committee. I hope we will get justice,” the SP MP said. “I will answer the questions they will ask. And I am going with the hope that we will get justice,” he added.

Barq has consistently denied the allegations, calling them unfounded and politically motivated.

Former high court judge Justice DK Arora, former chief secretary Amit Mohan Prasad and ex-DGP Arvind Kumar Jain are the members of judicial commission, constituted by the state government on November 28, last year.

Barq had previously appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on April 8 in connection with the same case.

The judicial commission is currently recording statements from key individuals to determine the causes of the unrest and the roles, if any, played by public representatives.

The commission is also expected to record statements of Jama Masjid managing committee chairman Zafar Ali, currently lodged in Moradabad prison. He was arrested by the Sambhal police for allegedly orchestrating violence in the district during ASI survey of the mosque.

The incident in question dates back to November 24, 2023, when clashes broke out during a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Several individuals were booked in connection with the violence.

Nashik, April 16: Police were pelted with stones in Kathe Gali area of ​​Nashik on Tuesday night. The incident took place when the electricity was cut off in the area and taking advantage of the darkness, the mob suddenly started pelting stones on the police and vehicles parked nearby. In this violent incident, three to four policemen were injured, while five vehicles were also damaged. The cause of the ruckus is being said to be a rumor about a religious place.

The police had to take immediate action to bring the situation under control. Around 500 policemen were deployed at night so that the situation does not deteriorate further. It is being told that around 400 to 500 people were present at the time of commotion. The police have also changed the traffic routes in the area to avoid any untoward situation. Administrative and police officials together kept a close watch on the situation and patrolling continued throughout the night.

Sources said that the root of this whole matter is a controversial religious site, which has been under tension for the past few days. The municipality had on April 1 issued a notice on an unauthorized construction following a court order, which said that the administration would take appropriate action if the construction itself was not removed. Despite this warning, the religious site was not removed, causing discontent among the local people and all kinds of rumours.

Officials said that some religious places in the area were constructed without permission and notices were given to remove them, after which the incident took place. All such unauthorized religious places will be removed in the next two days. Nashik Police says that police are taking action to maintain peace in the entire area. Police and administrative personnel are still present in the area and the situation is being monitored.

New Delhi, April 16: Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal reacted sharply to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with Muslim religious leaders on Wednesday and alleged that she was playing the political game using anti-social elements to build her vote bank.

The meeting reportedly aims to formulate a strategy to oppose the Waqf Act in West Bengal.

While speaking with media, Jaiswal said, “This is Mamata Banerjee’s political game. Muslim brothers never try to establish unrest or promote violence. But to build her vote bank, she is using people with an anti-social mindset.”

CM Banerjee and her party, Trinbamool Congress, have openly criticised the Centre’s approach to religious and minority rights, and Wednesday’s meeting is expected to finalise a roadmap for ‘legal and public resistance’.

In another development, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a significant case on Wednesday regarding the constitutional validity of the Waqf Act; ahead of it, Dilip Jaiswal urged people to give the Act at least a year.

He stated that if improvements are needed after that time, the government is open to making amendments.

Opposition parties have filed a petition demanding the annulment of the Act, claiming it is discriminatory and lacks a proper legal framework. The case is likely to have wide-reaching implications for religious endowments and community rights across the country.

Dilip Jaiswal addressed the issue ahead of the hearing in the Supreme Court, defending the legislation and urging the public to give it time.

“You can see that the Waqf Board was formed through a democratic process for the welfare of Pasmanda Muslims, poor Muslims and to free the board from those who had long controlled it. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was constituted, opinions were taken from crores of people, and extensive discussions were held in both Houses of Parliament. Only after that was this law brought in,” Jaiswal said.

He added a comparison to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying, “My appeal to the people is, take a look at this law for one year, just as we did with the CAA. At that time, an atmosphere of fear was created among Muslim brothers across the country. If, after one year, you feel improvements are needed, we are open to amendments.”