Present Evidence Or Apologise: Naidu Slams Digvijaya Singh For His ISIS Claim
New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today asked Congress leader Digvijaya Singh to provide evidence over his allegation that the Telangana Police was encouraging Muslim youths to join the terror outfit of Islamic State.
He said the Telangana Police "pro-actively share" information on anti-terror operations with other states and such "baseless charges demoralise" the forces.
"Shocked by allegations of Sh Digvijay Singh on #Telangana police encouraging Muslims to join ISIS. He should present evidence or apologise," Naidu said in a tweet.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister was responding to Singh's accusation that Telangana Police was radicalising Muslim youths and encouraging them to join the Islamic State (IS) by setting up a "bogus" website of the terror group.
AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh yesterday kicked up a row with a shocking remark claiming that the Telangana state police has set up a "bogus" ISIS website to radicalise Muslim youth and encourage them to join the terrorist outfit.
Telangana's ruling TRS reacted sharply to the "most irresponsible and reprehensible" remarks of the senior Congress leader and demanded that he withdraw those.
"Telangana Police has set up a bogus ISIS site which is radicalising Muslim youth and encouraging them to become ISIS modules," Singh said in a post on his Twitter page.
"The issue is whether Telangana Police should be trapping Muslim Youths in becoming ISIS modules by posting inflammatory information?
"Is It Ethical? Is it Moral? Has KCR authorised Telangana Police to trap Muslim Youths and encourage them to join ISIS? If he has then shouldn't he own the responsibility and resign? If he hasn't then shouldn't he enquire and punish those who are responsible for committing such a heinous crime?" Singh said in a series of tweets.
Following the comments, TRS MLA from Jubilee Hills constituency M Gopi Nath filed a police complaint against the Congress leader seeking action against him.
"We have received a complaint from the MLA that says Digvijaya Singh has defamed the police. We have referred the matter for legal opinion and will proceed as per the legal opinion," Jubilee Hills police station inspector S Venkat Reddy told PTI.
Protesting against Singh's comments, TRS workers in the city burnt his effigy.
A complaint was also filed against Singh in Karimnagar in Telangana.
Lodging a complaint with the I Town police station, Karimnagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Sardar Ravinder Singh stated that the comments made by Singh are "highly objectionable and might create a law and order problem in the state. I request the police to take suitable action against Singh as per law."
When contacted, Karimnagar I town Circle Inspector Tula Srinivas Rao said, "We have not registered an FIR yet. We will take a legal opinion before proceeding further".
The Congress leader's comment drew sharp reaction from TRS, with Telangana Industries and IT Minister K T Rama Rao demanding that Singh withdraw his remarks or provide evidence to back his claim.
"Most irresponsible and reprehensible thing coming from a former CM (of Madhya Pradesh). Request you to withdraw these comments unconditionally or provide evidence," Rama Rao, the son of chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, tweeted.
Later, talking to reporters on the issue in New Delhi he wanted to know if the Congress high command endorsed Singh's remarks.
The Congress leader, who continues to be the party's general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana after being divested of the charge of Karnataka and Goa on Saturday, said on Twitter that it was after Telangana police's information "that MP police arrested those who were responsible for a bomb blast in a train in Shajapur district".
"It also resulted in Saifullaha encounter in Kanpur the same day," he said.
Telangana DGP Anurag Sharma said the Congress leader's comments would demoralise the police force and lower the image of personnel engaged in fighting anti-national forces.
"Unfounded allegations from a senior, responsible leader will lower the morale and image of police engaged in fighting anti-national forces," Sharma said.
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With PTI Inputs
