New Delhi: Distancing itself from key allies Lalu and Mulayam over their stand in which they had welcomed the lifting of ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) by a Delhi High Court Tribunal, the Congress categorically termed SIMI as a terrorist organisation.
"No, I do not agree with the statements of Lalu Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav welcoming lifting of ban because SIMI is a terrorist organisation," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav had welcomed the judgment of the Tribunal. He had further said that if SIMI was banned, then RSS, Bajrang Dal and Siv Sena should also be banned.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had also welcomed the judgment of the Tribunal. It must me mentioned that Mulayam Singh Yadav had revoked the ban on SIMI in Uttar Pradesh and had always opposed the ban.
Explaining the party's stand, Tiwari said, "SIMI was facing double ban under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 2005. Under Section 3 of the Act, the government has the right to ban any organisation for its involvement in unlawful activities and the government had banned SIMI under Section 3."
Adding he said, "Further under Section 35 of the same Act, there is a schedule listing terrorist organistion and SIMI's name has been mentioned as terrorist organisation. Under Section 4 of the same Act, government has the right to refer any matter, when an organistion is banned, for adjudication to the Tribunal or High Court."
"And the government had moved the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Tribunal and the apex court has placed an interim stay on the decision of the Tribunal," Tiwari said.
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