Batla House encounter: Ulema Council seeks to meet PM Narendra Modi, pitches for judicial probe

“We will explain to him the injustice done to us during the Congress regime. Our boys were murdered by police in a fake encounter. The Congress did not accept our demand for a probe. We hope Modi will be different from Congress. Let us see what is his opinion,” he added.

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The RUC has been staging demonstrations every year since 2008 when the Batla House encounter took place. Rashadi alleged that policemen had killed the youths hailing from Azamgarh to conceal their own infighting, which led to death of one police officer.

The council, meanwhile, is set to hold a dharna at Jantar Mantar on September 19. Around 2,500 tickets for Kaifiyat Express from Azamgarh have been booked for September 18. The train will reach New Delhi the next day. “The train will be now Ulema Express as nearly all seats have been booked,” Rashadi said.

The RUC has also urged Muslims in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh to attending the dharna. “We have many well wishers in these states and they are going to attend the dharna,” said Rashadi.

Currently, RUC has entered into an alliance as Ittehad Front with small parties like the Welfare Party of India, Indian National League and Parcham Party of India. Though these three have no base among Muslims in UP, these have also been invited for the dharna. “It will be a united dharna by all parties and the leaders will also attend it,” Rashadi said.