MINISTER FOR Haj and Minorities Welfare Haji Yaqoob Qureshi, on Sunday, reiterated his controversial stand against the Danish cartoonist. He also targeted Urban Development Minister Mohd Azam Khan for comments against him on the issue.
He asked Khan to clarify his stand on the cartoons.
Qureshi, who was given a warm welcome on his arrival here on Sunday, after his statement fixing an award on the head of the cartoonist at a rally in Meerut recently, said Khan had termed his (Qureshi’s) announcement “childish”, but he had not explained his stand on the problem.
Qureshi said Khan should clarify to the people whether he loved Prophet Mohammad or not. He said he was ready to debate the issue on the floor of the House on February 28, when the House meets after a recess. About the demand for his resignation, the minister said if Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav wanted it, he would put in his papers..
“I am prepared to sacrifice any thing for the Prophet,” the minister said and added the people of Meerut were with him on the issue. Calling it a matter of faith, he said he would not backtrack.
{{/usCountry}}“I am prepared to sacrifice any thing for the Prophet,” the minister said and added the people of Meerut were with him on the issue. Calling it a matter of faith, he said he would not backtrack.
{{/usCountry}}The minister has also written to President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, demanding expulsion of Denmark’s envoy from the country. Asserting that the cartoons were a conspiracy by Western people, including Jews, the minister said the BJP had come out of hibernation only after his statement. He said BJP had so far been maintaining a silence over the blasphemy on the Hindu deities. But, after his statement, the party was demanding action against those insulting the deities.
Quereshi said he had not received any notice from court, but was ready to tackle the issue legally. The minister said he had not committed any offence against any Indian.
He said “my call is against the Danish cartoonist”, and this did not constitute any offence. He made it clear he would collect money only if it was required.