Author: Gyanant Singh
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: August 6, 2006
URL: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060806/asp/nation/story_6575368.asp
Bangladeshi fundamentalist leaders regularly
attend meetings arranged by the Students Islamic Movement of India (Simi)
in Bengal, the Centre has revealed.
Justifying the ban on Simi imposed in February,
the Centre has submitted before the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal
that the organisation was using its pan-Islamic links to support anti-national
and anti-social activities.
Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act, 1967, after banning any outfit, the government has to submit a reference
to the tribunal that would determine whether there "is sufficient cause
for declaring an organisation unlawful".
The Centre said leaders of the Jamait-e-Islami
and the Islamic Chhatra Shibir of Bangladesh regularly attend Simi meetings
in Bengal.
Information received from intelligence agencies
has revealed that the Islamic Chhatra Shibir, which is the student wing of
the Jamait, had used Simi to circulate objectionable CDs to influence young
Muslims in the state, the government said.
The agencies have also provided inputs to
show that Simi has established links with the Lashkar-e-Toiba to carry out
militant activities.
In a written submission to the tribunal, the
Centre said the ban had to be imposed for the third time because Simi did
not refrain from its anti-national activities despite being declared unlawful
in September 2001 and September 2003.
It had kept its network alive by re-grouping
and reviving the organisation through front organisations, the government
said.
The Centre said Simi is supporting and receiving
support in return from militant organisations like Al-Umma, Ganzim-Islahal
Muslameen, Lashkar, Indian Muslim Mohammedi Mujahedin, Darsga-e-Shahadat and
the Tehreek-e-Shaire-Islamia.
It is also receiving moral and financial support
from the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, Riyadh, International Islamic Federation
of Students' Organisations, Kuwait, and the Chicago-based Consultative Committee
of Indian Muslims, the Centre said.
The government said the organisation was found
to be involved in at least six cases of anti-national activity across the
country.
In some cases, the Centre said, it was seen
that Simi was working along with the Lashkar, justifying the ban under the
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
