------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi/ Lucknow The US decision to deny entry to noted Shia cleric Kalbe Sadiq has attracted all-around criticism in the country. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Friday condemned the action, saying that it would further alienate Muslims from America. The Friday prayers in the Shia localities in Lucknow saw the outpouring of extreme reaction.
Claiming that America's image with the Muslim community was already not very good, AIMPLB spokesman SQR Iliyasi said such incidents would only provoke "anti-US sentiments" among them. Leaders from the community on Friday asked the Centre to take up the matter with the US Government. "The Indian Government acted swiftly in condemning the denial of visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi recently and it should now take up the issue of Kalbe Sadiq's interrogation at the airport and his deportation to London without any rhyme or reason with its counterparts in the US," Shia cleric and Imam-e-Juma of the Ssifi Mosque, Kalbe Kawwad said in Lucknow. Describing Kalbe Sadiq as an undisputed leader of the Muslims, Kawwad said "the shabby and insulting treatment meted out to him (Sadiq) by the immigration authorities in the US is the insult of the entire community." "The Government should act fast or else we shall be compelled to decide our own action plan which could include preventing US citizens from visiting our country as a retaliatory move," he said. Addressing the majlis after the Friday prayers, Jawwad criticised the US move and pointed out that while Sadiq was denied entry, president of the newly-formed All India Shia Personal Law Board Maulana Atthar had been touring the US without any hitch. Jawwad had alleged that the US had plotted the division of Muslims by "managing" Atthar and others to form a Shia board in opposition to the umbrella body of AIMPLB. Sadiq had reached the Chicago International Airport on March 17 to attend a religious function but was denied permission to enter the country and deported to London, after being subjected to intensive quizzing by immigration officials, son Kalbe Hussain said. The Islamic Council of India accused the US of an anti-Muslim bias. "It's a shameful incident and an attack on the democratic rights of 20 crore Muslims of India," the Islamic Council said in a statement. It alleged that the American officials asked the Maulana during his detention if he knew how to make bombs. In its reaction, Asian Alliance, another body of Muslims in Delhi, stated that ill-treatment to Kalbe Sadiq smacked of the American design to work against the "figures" who were "assets to Asian unity" as Sadiq stood against communalism besides being an Islamic scholar who was a reformist. ------------------------------------------------------------ The cycle of US Visa denial to Indians has begun. Becareful Anti Hindu/Anti Muslim/Anti Christian baiters. You may not be able to visit the Bush Kingdom!!!! Aqui e' Goa, Aqui e' India Jai Hind!!!!
