145;Minister justified, was only speaking as a Muslim146;

UP Minister for Minority Welfare and Haji Yaqoob Quereshi who announced Rs 51 crore as reward for anyone beheading the Danish cartoonist for caricaturing Prophet Muhammad, today drew strong support from his Cabinet colleagues.

8216;8216;The law of the land doesn8217;t permit a minister to speak like this. But I am sure that he spoke all this as an individual8230;But we can pay even more than Rs 51 crore to teach a lesson to such people who hurt the sentiment of the Muslim community,8217;8217; Samajwadi Party MP from Moradabad Dr Shafiqur Rahman Barq said. 8216;8216;Whatever he said may be intended towards sending a clear message that those who commit blasphemy on Islam won8217;t be spared at any cost. Killing the Danish cartoonist is the only option and we are ready to collect much more to pay as reward to one who punishes him.8217;8217;

The All India Waqf Welfare Council, meanwhile, held a meeting today and supported the call, saying Lucknow would contribute substantially to the bounty.

Hamid Kokab, Tourism Minister, meanwhile, tempered his support. 8216;8216;The announcement of reward for beheading the cartoonist may be his personal opinion. As a minister, he cannot say so. It seems that his statement is an emotional outburst of a Muslim because the cartoon hurt the religious sentiment of a community,8217;8217; he said.

	nbsp;	8226; Though the publication of the cartoon of prophet Mohammad was highly deplorable and condemnable, this kind of statement could inflame passion. All India Muslim Personal Law Board spokesman SQR Iliyasi 8226; The minister should be sacked immediately for such a statement as no one has the power to take anyone8217;s life. Let any one be a follower of any belief or religion but there should be no attempt to hurt that belief or their sentiments. BJP chief Rajnath Singh 8226; Chief Minister should come clean on the issue8230;His silence is shocking and surprising. Congress spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh	nbsp;