Tanzeem leads massive protest in Bhatkal against blasphemous remarks by Yati Narsinghanand
Bhatkal Bandh called on October 15 to register protest against remarks
Bhatkal: The Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem Bhatkal organised a large protest in the city on Monday, condemning the offensive remarks made by Yati Narsinghanand against Prophet Mohammed during an event last month. The protest saw a strong turnout, with speakers demanding strict action against the controversial figure for his repeated inflammatory statements.
Maulana Abdul Aleem, one of the key speakers at the protest, denounced Narsinghanand's comments, calling them deeply offensive. He described Prophet Mohammed as a "messenger of God and an ambassador of peace and harmony," adding that anyone who insults the Prophet is undermining social harmony. He also labelled Narsinghanand as an "anti-social element" who stands against the pluralistic and democratic ideals on which India is built.
Mohammed Kunhi, Manager of Shanti Prakashan, Mangaluru, echoed similar sentiments. He pointed out that Narsinghanand has a history of making blasphemous statements and emphasized the need for strict legal action to send a message that such behaviour will not be tolerated in an inclusive and diverse India.
Inayathullah Shabandri, President of Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, also voiced strong condemnation of Narsinghanand's remarks. He called upon the Karnataka government to take immediate and firm action. Shabandri warned that if the authorities failed to act, the Tanzeem would escalate the protest with a larger "Karwar Chalo" march to press for justice.
Abdur Raqeeb MJ, General Secretary of Tanzeem, highlighted the significance of Prophet Mohammed's teachings, describing him as the "greatest professor of peace" for all of humanity. He stressed that such remarks not only hurt the sentiments of Muslims but also disrupt the social fabric of the country.
Advocate Imran Lanka, convenor of the protest, read out a memorandum addressed to the Chief Justice of India. The document, submitted through the Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner, demanded that Narsinghanand be charged under stringent laws, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The protest underscored the frustration felt by the Muslim community in India over the lack of action against Narsinghanand’s repeated hate speeches.
In a further move to register their protest, the Tanzeem has called for a 24-hour Bandh across Bhatkal, urging local traders to shut their businesses from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning. The call for a complete shutdown is intended to amplify their demand for action against the blasphemous remarks and to show solidarity within the community.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
