UMF flays Army's remarks

GUWAHATI, August 8: The United Minorities' Front (UMF) led by HRA Choudhury has condemned the statements made by the general officer commanding of 4 Corps, Lt Gen BS Shekhatkar, suggesting that mosques and madrassas in the state are becoming shelters for agents of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). In an executive meeting today, the UMF passed a resolution condemning the statements and said that it was a well-calculated move by the Army as well as the state government to harass religious minorities, particularly religious leaders, intellectuals, social workers and known political workers on the ground of "links" with the ISI, taking advantage of the sentiment prevailing in the country in the aftermath of the Kargil intrusion. The resolution said that it was evident from the harassment meted out to the members of religious minorities that the Army and the police were firm in their conviction that minorities were pro-Pakistani and fond of resorting to anti-national activities and giving shelter to militants in mosques and madrassas.