State Govt opposed to ban on SIMI

THE STATE Government today said that it did not support a ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). ?The SIMI has no activities in UP. The Government has nothing to support the ban on SIMI,? a spokesperson for the State Home Department said here.

THE STATE Government today said that it did not support a ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

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“The SIMI has no activities in UP. The Government has nothing to support the ban on SIMI,” a spokesperson for the State Home Department said here.

So is the State Government working at cross-purposes with the Centre is the obvious question being asked here?

The spokesperson’s assertions have come after the Central Government’s notification banning the SIMI under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. His assertions have come a day after the DGP office issued a press release publicising Centre’s notification constituting the tribunal headed by Justice BN Chaturvedi of Delhi High Court to hear objections against the SIMI ban.

The spokesperson said the State Government had made its opinion known to the Centre on the issue on June 21, 2005. The Centre has banned the SIMI despite reservations of the State Government, he said. He, however, clarified that the ban has automatically come into force all over the country including Uttar Pradesh.

On whether the State Government would allow activities of the SIMI in UP, the spokesperson said it was a hypothetical question.