M A I N   N E W S

Koran burning: PM orders probe

New Delhi, March 13
Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee has ordered a probe into the alleged burning of a copy of the holy Koran here last week, official sources said.

This was conveyed to the top leaders of Muslim religious and political organisations when they met the Prime Minister here today demanding stringent action against those indulging in the act.

The delegation members told reporters that they showed Mr Vajpayee the photographs of the scripture being burnt by agitators.

The Prime Minister assured the Muslim leaders that the culprits would not be spared, they said.

Home Secretary Kamal Pande and Delhi Police Commissioner Ajay Raj Sharma were present during the 30-minute meeting of the Muslim leaders with the Prime Minister.

The delegation, included Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Maulana Obaidullah Khan Azmi, MP, and representatives of organisations like the Milli Council, Muslim Personal Law Board and Jamaat-e-Islami.

Stating that an FIR had been lodged with the city police on the incident last week, journalist Shahid Siddiqui, a member of the delegation, said the incident was “as horrible as the Taliban’s demolition of Buddha statues in Bamiyan.”

He said the delegation sought immediate steps by the government to defuse the tension, while promising to cooperate with the government in maintaining peace and harmony.

Former MP Wasim Ahmed, convener of “Hindustani Biradari”, also sought immediate action against the culprits.

Meanwhile, the government today assured the Lok Sabha that Home Minister L.K. Advani would take the House into confidence on the report of an inquiry being conducted into the alleged burning of Koran in the Capital last week.

Responding to members’ concern, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan appealed to political parties not to make statements which could fan communal sentiments in the country.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Muslim League member G.M. Banatwala alleged that the government was maintaining silence on the incident and demanded immediate action. He was supported by Ramdas Athawale (Independent) and others. PTI