Shia clerics withdraws call for nationwide camps for arms licences

Amidst ensuing controversy, Shia cleric and Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Hind General Secretary Maulana Kalbe Jawwad withdrew a call wherein Muslims, SCs and STs were asked to sell their property, valuables to buy firearms to defend themselves from the right wing people, who would attack them without reason.

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Shia cleric and Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Hind General Secretary Maulana Kalbe Jawwad on Monday withdrew a call for the nationwide camps to help Muslims, Dalits and tribals fill up forms for arms licenses.

The announcement came after controversy erupted over camp organizer and Supreme Court lawyer Mehmood Pracha's statement at a press conference in New Delhi on July 11, wherein he reportedly asked Muslims, Dalits and tribals to sell their property and jewellery to buy weapons.

"These communities are being targeted in incidents of mob lynching and have the right to take the path of violence to protect themselves," he was quoted as having said at the press conference held to announce a series of camps across India to fill up forms for arms licenses.

The movement was to commence from Lucknow, where the first camp was to be organised on July 26 on the invitation Maulana Kalbe Jawwad.

Pracha had said the camps would be organised in at least 12 cities, including six in Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims, Dalits and tribals are under threat and need legal help.