The Uttar Pradesh Police has booked All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s state unit chief Haji Shaukat Ali for making allegedly provocative remarks during an Eid event in Meerut, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday.
Three of the party’s office-bearers have also been arrested for organising the gathering without permission.
The event was held at a farmhouse on Monday, The Indian Express quoted the police as saying.
Action against the AIMIM members came after a video of the programme was widely shared on social media, in which Ali is heard making remarks purportedly about the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
“Give me just 11 MLAs, and I promise that if a Muslim is killed in an encounter in Uttar Pradesh, those who are responsible for the encounter will also face an encounter,” Ali could be heard purportedly saying.
He also reportedly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party government for the closure of madrasas and punitive demolition of homes.
Meerut Superintendent of Police Antriksh Jain said a case had been registered at Lohiya Nagar police station.
The first information report includes charges related to promoting enmity between groups and making statements conducive to public mischief, The Indian Express reported.
“The speeches were intended to create enmity between different religions and communities and affect law and order,” PTI quoted Jain as saying.
The AIMIM leaders arrested have been identified as the party’s western Uttar Pradesh president Mehtab Chauhan, metropolitan president Imran Ansari and metropolitan secretary Razi Siddiqui, according to the news agency.
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