Godhra doc goes to police over derogatory posters

Sub-Inspector A V Parmar said they are investigating the matter. “We are aware of previous complaints of miscreants torching Wali’s house in 1996. We will soon find the culprits behind this nuisance,” said Parmar,adding that a case of causing disrepute has been filed.

According to Wali,his house was attacked as many as 17 times till 1996 because “we do not believe in keeping beard or encourage women to wear traditional veils when they step out of the house”. He added: “They are calling my father (Zainuddin Wali) and me agents of Satan because my father writes for a Mumbai-based Gujarati daily,Mumbai Samachar,in which he posts some of the progressive articles on Muslim community’s reformation. Moreover,about two months ago,his book Sudhara Ni Dhara was confiscated by these people because it spoke of reformation in Islamic thought.”

He further said that they did not pay zakat to the community members because most of the funds were either misused or sent to Mumbai.

“Poor and needy people should be helped irrespective of their religious affiliations. The Holy Quran says so. We help them in our hospital,” said Wali.

Doodhawala has,meanwhile,denied the allegations.

“If required,we will go to the court and prove that this man has been cheating other members of the community. We have not published such posters. We think it is his own handiwork to gain popularity,” he said.