Muslim groups protest against Naqvi's silence on killings

Two Muslim organisations staged a protest during the visit by Union Minister for Minorities Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi here on Saturday over his silence on the lynching of Muslims by cow vigilantes.

Condemning Naqvi's silence, Tehreek-e-Muslim Shabban (TMS) and Darasgah Jihad-o-Shadat (DJS) tried to stage a sit-in at Haj House.

Police arrested the leaders and activists of the two organisations and shifted them to a police station.

Mild tension prevailed as TMS President Mushtaq Malik had an argument with the police officers, who refused to allow any protest.

Malik told reporters that they wanted to stage a peaceful protest and meet Naqvi to submit a representation over the killings. He said the BJP government was allowing the 'gorakshaks' to lynch Muslims in the name of cow protection.

Naqvi was in Hyderabad to attend the annual conference of state channelising agencies of the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation.

--IANS

ms/vgu/bg