NEW DELHI, Sep 28 (UNI): Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today defended the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), and asked the people to shun violence, saying for the aggrieved party had the right to move the special tribunal to seek justice.
"I dont want to go into the details but there is a system in the country.
They (SIMI) can appeal in the tribunal and can revert the order", Vajpayee told a large gathering of muslims, who came at his residence to express soliditary.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives at lucknow soon after imposition of ban on SIMI, Vajpayee said it was unfortunate that some persons were killed in the police firing.
Muslims leaders, who supported the governments policy in fighting against the global terrorism, congratulated the prime minister for making a bold statement that the present fight is not against the Muslims.
Muslim scholar Wahid-ud-Din Khan appreciated the prime minister for telling the world that the present campaign against terrorism was not against the Muslim community.
Without naming United States, Vajpayee said when India was fighting against terrorism for the past 20 years, these countries never supported India except expressing sympathy.
Referring to his address to us senate last year, Vajpayee said "I told the senate members that terrorism had no boundary but it was unfortunate that they did not listen to us." Ban on SIMI Security tightened in Jharkhand RANCHI, Sep 28 (UNI) Security has been beefed up in Jharkhand as a precautionary measure following the country-wide ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
Official sources said the state headquarters had instructed all district administrations to maintian maximum vigil.
The SIMI, which was reportedly active in some parts of Bihar, had no set up in Jharkhand but as precationary measures steps were taken to prevent the occurrance of an untoward incident, the sources addded.
Meanwhile, todays dawn-to-dusk Ranchi bandh, called by the Jharkhand Momin Adhikar Manch to press for 20 per cent reservation in government jobs for the Muslims, had been called off.
The decision was taken by the manch office bearers here late last night following the ban imposed on simi and the related developments in Uttar Pradesh.
However, the district administration had geared up its security measures and armed policemen, including RAF Jawans, had been deployed at strategic places.
Police patrolling was intensified in senstive areas, ranchi superintendent of police Neeraj Sinha said.
Mr Sinha said altogether 30 patrol vehicles were operated to maintain law and order in the capital city.
All police stations were asked to be on maxmium alert despite the Manchs decision to withdraw its call.
