New Delhi: Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, accused in the Delhi riots case, were denied bail by the Supreme Court. The political climate in the country is heated over this matter. The issue has become entangled in the Hindu-Muslim debate. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has criticized the Congress party over this issue. He explained why the Supreme Court did not grant bail to the two undertrial prisoners.
Owaisi reminded that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was amended during the UPA government. Certain provisions were added to the definition of terrorism at that time, which he had questioned. Owaisi had asked in the Lok Sabha in 2007 or 2008, "What does 'in any other manner, of whatever nature' mean?"
Targeting Congress
Owaisi said that the Congress party itself had enacted this law. He had already warned that it could be misused. Today, two young men are being denied bail based on that very law. One of them has been in jail for five and a half years. Owaisi questioned whether any leader of the Congress party has ever spent one, two, or five and a half years in jail since independence?
He had said this in the Indian Parliament, and it is on record. He referred to Clause 43D and spoke about 180 days of detention. Owaisi had confidently stated that in 100% of cases where minorities are arrested, they will be kept in custody for 180 days before a charge sheet is filed.
He said that the reality is that there is a huge difference between truth and hope. Owaisi also said that people in uniform harbor a kind of hatred. He reiterated that they would be kept in custody for 180 days.
'...Bail is very difficult to obtain'
Owaisi also explained that the UAPA is a law that deals with terrorism-related cases. It contains certain provisions that make it very difficult to obtain bail, especially when someone is accused of spreading terrorism or being involved in related activities. Under this law, if the court believes the allegations are true, it can refuse to grant bail. This law also empowers the government to take strict action against suspected individuals.
