Yasin Bhatkal statement: SP sacks Kamaal Farooqui as party secretary

Zee Media Bureau Lucknow: Kamaal Farooqui was on Thursday sacked from the post of Samajwadi Party`s national secretary following his comments on arrested Indian Mujahideen founder Yasin Bhatkal`s arrest. Commenting on Bhatkal’s arrest, Farooqui had last month said: “Is this arrest based on crime or religion?" "If he is a terrorist, then he should not be spared but if he has been arrested just because he is a Muslim, then caution should be exercised as we don`t want to send a wrong message to the entire community." The SP government had distanced itself from the remarks saying they reflected Farooqui’s personal views. The BJP had criticised the SP for giving a religious hue to the issue of terrorism. Bhatkal, wanted by police in 12 states for bombings and other terror activities in the last five years, was arrested from the India-Nepal border last month. He was arrested along with Asadullah Akhtar, his terror accomplice.