UP minister in soup for defending Paris attack

Meerut: A case has been registered against former Uttar Pradesh minister and BSP leader Haji Yakub Qureshi for his controversial comments, in which he defended the terror attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

A case under section 505 1 (c) (with intent to incite, or likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community) of the IPC was registered against Qureshi last night in the Kotwali police station, SP Om Prakash said.

The case was lodged on the complaint of Inspector Lal Singh and action will be taken after investigation, he said.

Qureshi had yesterday courted controversy when he sought to defend the terror attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, saying whoever shows disrespect to the Prophet will invite death.

"Prophet Mohammad had conveyed a message of peace to the entire world and if anyone makes certain cartoons on him will invite death like the cartoonists and journalists in Paris," Qureshi had said in comments that came at a time when the massacre came in for all-round condemnation across the world.

According to some media reports, Qureshi had also announced a reward of Rs 51 crore to the killers of the Paris journalists.

He, however, later denied those reports. "I have not made any such announcement regarding the attack in Paris," he claimed.

When asked about Qureshi's controversial comments, BSP leader Atar Singh Rav said he is not aware about the matter and will comment on it after talking to Qureshi about his stand.

Four of France's most famous cartoonists were among the dozen people killed on Wednesday when gunmen attacked the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo.

In 2006, Qureshi had stoked a huge controversy when he declared a reward of Rs 51 crore for anyone who would kill the Danish cartoonist who had created a controversial cartoon of Prophet Mohammed. He had made the offer at a public rally in Meerut.