8 Muslims arrested during Chandrababu’s meet

VIJAYAWADA: Eight Muslim youths from Kurnool were arrested for staging a protest during Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s speech.

According to media reports, the youngsters at a TDP Muslim outreach event titled ‘Nara Hamara-TDP Hamara’ held recently in Guntur were reportedly demanding inclusion of Muslims in the AP Cabinet

The youths also alleged corruption and irregularities in Wakf Board properties.

The arrested men were identified as Sk Mahabub Baha, SK Jubair Ahmed, Habeebullah, Jakria, Sheikh Akhtar Salman, Sk Mohammad Mujahedeen, Sk Makhtu and SK Jubair were booked under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Leaders from the Muslim community questioning the arrests asked, “Don’t Muslims have a right to stage a peaceful protest.”

YSRCP President YS Jaganmohan Reddy took to Twitter on Thursday and wrote, “Was it not you, who asked the Muslims across the State to come to the meeting in Guntur? When they came and asked you to keep the assurances you have given them in a democratic manner, should they be treated in such an inhumane manner? What wrong have they committed? Is asking where were Urdu medium schools, which were promised in the party manifesto, wrong? Is asking why free bus passes to Madrasa students and school uniforms were not provided, wrong? Is asking why you have not given cabinet berth to Muslims wrong? Is it justified to have them tortured by the police and kept at an unknown place for 30 hours? Is there no human rights in the State?”

While TDP alleged that YSRCP leaders brought the youths in the public meeting to create a ruckus.