Owaisi Backs AIMIM Corporator Arrested For Aiding Nida Khan
“A burqa was found at the girl’s house, and there was a book on Prophet Muhammad": Police
MUMBAI: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday came out in strong defense of party corporator Mateen Patel and Nida Khan, who is facing serious allegations of promoting forced religious conversion in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Patel is accused of helping Khan to evade police for 40 days. Owaisi dismissed the gravity of the First Information Report (FIR), suggesting that the mere filing of charges does not equate to guilt.
Ms Khan had been on the run for more than 40 days since the alleged forced conversion case came to light. According to the police, Mr. Patel helped her during the period.
“A burqa was found at the girl’s house, and there was a book on Prophet Muhammad. Charges have been leveled against her on this basis. When was a burqa ever declared illegal? Furthermore, religious books are bound to be present in a Muslim household. Regarding the charges filed against her, she will prove herself in court. Matin Patel will also fight in the court. But they are being declared guilty by the media even before the court’s verdict. How can the Nida Khan case be decided solely on the basis of a media trial? We have faith in our judiciary. Therefore, we will fight against it,” Mr. Owaisi said.
The AIMIM chief further said TCS had clarified that Nida Ms. Khan was not an HR employee. He alleged that her name was made public even before the FIR was registered and accused the ruling party of conducting a media trial. “TCS has clarified that Nida Khan was not an HR employee. Even before the FIR was registered, her name was made public and a media trial was conducted by the ruling party,” he said.
While reacting to the arrest of AIMIM corporator Mateen Patel, Mr. Owaisi said, “Our worker will present his case in court.”
Mr. Owaisi alleged that this case is being given a political hue. He stated, “No one can be declared guilty based solely on accusations.”
Meanwhile, Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat alleged that AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel pressured a party corporator to provide shelter to Ms.Khan.
Ms Khan, who is accused in multiple cases linked to alleged religious conversion attempts, molestation and harassment at a Tata Consultancy Services unit in Nashik, was arrested from a house in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Thursday after evading authorities for weeks.
“The details emerging from the TCS case are shocking. Nida Khan first went to Mumbra and later Imtiaz Jaleel met her in Nashik and publicly supported her. She later stayed in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar at the residence of an AIMIM corporator. Mr. Jaleel had pressured the corporator to help her,” Mr. Shirsat said adding that that members associated with the banned Students Islamic Movement of India had become part of the AIMIM.
