Terrorism Watch

Via Indian Express, Rs 51-crore reward for Danish cartoonist's head, says UP Minister

The Minister for Minority Welfare and Haj in the Mulayam Singh Yadav government, Haji Yaqoob Qureishi, has announced a cash reward of Rs 51 crore for anyone who beheads the Danish cartoonist who caricatured Prophet Mohammad.

When contacted, UP Principal Secretary, Home, Alok Sinha told The Indian Express: "The minister's reaction was the voice of someone whose religious sentiments have been hurt. Moreover, since the reference was to a person who is far off, there is no question of an FIR being lodged against the minister."

However, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board member and Naib Imam of Aishbagh Idgah, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, criticized the Minister's call for the killing of the cartoonist.

Yaqoob Qureishi, a third-rate loser, should be tried for soliciting murder and terrorism. India must not tolerate people who spout such garbage as Ministers in our governments.

The disgraceful defense of this terror-enabler by the UP Government merits wide-spread condemnation.

As a native of UP, and as one who has aggressively condemned the bigoted cartoons in question, this blogger is appalled by the cynical spinelessness of the state government. Its spokesperson, Alok Sinha, should be immediately fired.