NEW DELHE: The Janata Dal president, Mr, V.P. Singh, on Monday critised the Government for its reported refusal to renew the passport of Syed Abdullah Bukhari, Shahi Lmam of Jama Masjid.
He said in a statement here that the Government had “trotted out” a “flimsy excuse” — a longstanding case is pending in a Kerala court for its decision.
Mr. Singh said that the Imam wanted to go abroad for medical and religious reasons. He wanted to attend the “Umrah” ritual which precedes the Haj ceremony.
Describing the Government decision as “wholly arbitrary and unjustified,” he said it amounted to a “brazen trampling of a citizen’s inalienable right of worship.”
Mr. Singh said: “The impression is inescapable that the Government is exerting undue political pressure for certain devious ends through the blatant misuse of its powers.”
Article extracted from this publication >> March 3, 1989
