Dr. Kafeel Khan, who was recently arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police in Mumbai in connection with the allegations of delivering a provocative speech about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at a talk in the Aligarh Muslim University last month, has now requested Maharashtra government to let him stay in Maharashtra, adding that he doesn’t trust the Uttar Pradesh Police.
Khan was arrested by the UP Police on Wednesday, with the assistance of the Mumbai Police. He was arrested at the Mumbai airport, and had visited the Maharashtra Capital to take part in the Mumbai Bagh anti-CAA protests.
An FIR was lodged against the controversial doctor on December 13, which stated that Khan had tried to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere at the Central University and disturb communal harmony.
What Khan’s role that much more suspicious is the fact that anti-CAA violence had taken grip of the Aligarh Muslim University last month after the CAA was passed in the Parliament. His speech seems to have been made at a time when rumour mills and the radical elements were in full flow trying to fuel communal violence against the CAA.
He is alleged to have made the inflammatory speech, which also contained objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on December 12 near the Bab e Syed Gate outside the Central University in front of a crowd of 600 students.
Dr. Khan however seems to fear the UP Police and wants to somehow stay in Mumbai instead of being handed over to the UP Police. He said, “I was given a clean chit in Gorakhpur children death case, now they are trying to frame me again. I request Maharashtra government to let me stay in MaharashtraI don’t trust the Uttar Pradesh Police.”
Khan’s fears seem to emanate out of the no nonsense attitude that the Yogi government and the UP Police have shown in the backdrop of anti-CAA violence in the state recently. While such violence had vitiated the atmosphere several parts of the country, the Yogi government had dealt with rioters in the sternest manner.
Shortly after incidents of violence in cities like Lucknow and Bulandshahr, CM Yogi had sprung into action by making it clear that the rioters who had caused damage to public property, would be made to pay for such damages. This was only in accordance with a 2018 Supreme Court order.
With the Uttar Pradesh government making it clear that it will not handle those who foment violence and spread hate, with kid gloves, it is not very difficult to understand why Kafeel Khan wants to stay in Mumbai and why he fears the UP Police.
