Former senior Ajmer Dargah official demands thorough investigation of Kerala blasts

The demand for a thorough investigation of the blasts that hit a Jehova’s Witnesses meet in Kerala’s Kalamassery killing three people, is on the rise.

Syed Babar Ashraf, Secretary General, All India Mohammadi Mission, who earlier served as Vice President at the Dargah Committee at Ajmer Dargah told India Narrative that the incident is worrisome and must not be taken lightly.

“We are shocked and condemn it. A thorough investigation must be done to get to the bottom of the incident,” Ashraf said.

The series of well coordinated blasts that hit Kerala has raised concerns as it occurred after Khaled Mashal, leader of the Hamas terrorist group, addressed a rally in the state on October 27. The rally was organised by Solidarity Youth Movement (SYM), youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, in Kerala’s Malappuram. During the rally, the SYM raised the slogan, “Uproot bulldozer Hindutva and apartheid Zionism.”

Security has been tightened across the country following the blasts in Kerala.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has formed a special 20 member team to investigate the blasts.

Source said that Home Minister Amit Shah, who spoke to Vijayan on Sunday, has asked the security agencies to increase their vigilance.

Meanwhile, Ashraf appreciated India’s decision to send aid to Palestine even as New Delhi abstained from voting at the United Nations General Assembly, which adopted a resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israel and Hamas.

“India’s position at the UNGA is understandable..New Delhi has close ties with Israel in several key sectors including defence and technology. Considering this, India will have to delicately play its cards,” Ashraf said. “But at the same time we welcome the fact that India sent aid to Palestine. New Delhi has also assured that it will stand by the people and continue to send more assistance..this is a positive move,” he said.

Ashraf earlier said that neither Hamas nor the Muslim Brotherhood can represent the Muslims. He added that they have no legitimacy to singularly act on the behalf of all Palestinians, putting the lives of lakhs of Muslims at risk.

India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Yojna Patel said that the terror attacks in Israel on 7th October were shocking and deserve condemnation.

“We hope that the deliberations of this assembly will send a clear message against terror and violence and expand prospects for diplomacy and dialogue while addressing the humanitarian crisis that confronts us,” Patel said.

“Our thoughts are also with those taken hostages. We call for their immediate and unconditional release. Terrorism is a malignancy and knows no borders, nationality, or race. The world should not buy into any justification of terror acts. Let us keep aside differences, unite, and adopt a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism,” Patel said.

Also read: India and Egypt share concerns over terrorism and loss of civilian lives in Israel-Hamas conflict