Press Council Chairperson Markandey Katju has demanded that the government reinstate DRDO scientist Aijaz Ahmed Mirza who was arrested on terror charges but released on bail as the National Investigation Agency did not file a charge sheet against him.
In a letter written to Defence Minister A K Antony and Karnataka Chief Minister Jagdish
Shettar, Katju said that if there is no evidence against Mirza, he should be reinstated and given adequate compensation, besides an open apology by central and state governments.
"I would request you to look into this matter immediately, and if it is true that there is no evidence against Aijaz Ahmed
Mirza, he should be reinstated forthwith on the post he was holding before he was sacked, otherwise a wrong message will be sent throughout the country that Muslims are terrorists and are fair game for being persecuted and victimised by the communal forces," the PCI Chief said in his letter.
Katju said that he had already issued a press note criticising the false implication of Muslims in bomb blast cases. He also said that Mirza had in a TV interview said that he was tortured and made to suffer indignities in jail.
"Hence I request you to ensure that apart from reinstating him, adequate compensation is awarded to him by the central and state government and an open apology is issued by central and state government to Aijaz Ahmed," Katju said.
Full text of the letter by Katju to Defence Minister A.K. Antony:
To
1. The Hon'ble Defence Minister oflndia,
Shri A.K. Antony,
9, Krishna Menon Marg,
New Delhi.
2. The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka,
Bangalore.
Dear Sir,
Re: Aijaz Ahmed Mirza
It has come to my knowledge that one Aijaz Ahmed Mirza, a D.R.D.O. scientist of
Bangalore, was sacked on the ground that he was implicated in the Hyderabad bomb blast case. lt was reported recently in the media that no evidence has been found against him by the
N.I.A. which has declined to file a charge sheet against him.
I would request to you look into this matter immediately, and if it is true that
there is no evidence against Aijaz Ahmed Mirza, he should be reinstated forthwith on the post he was holding before he was sacked, otherwise a wrong message will be sent throughout the country that Muslims are terrorists and are fair game for being persecuted and victimized by the communal forces.
ln my Press Note issued yesterday I had strongly criticized the false implication of
a large number of Muslims in bomb blast and other terrorist attack cases.
Aijaz Ahmed was kept in jail for six months, and according to his TV interview by
Rajdeep Sardesai on CNN- IBN channel he was tortured and made to suffer all kinds of indignities in jail. Hence l request you ensure that apart from reinstating him, adequate compensation is awarded to him by the Central/State Government and an open apology is issued by the Central/State Government to Aijaz Ahmed.
All this should be done at the earliest, otherwise the secular foundation of our
country as provided for in our Constitution shall be shaken to the core.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
(Markandey Katju)
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