Patna News: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Iftar party was boycotted by Muslim organisations on March 23 due to his support of the Waqf Amendment Act. However, many Muslim leaders still attended the Iftar party. Numerous pictures from the Iftar party were shared on social media platforms. However, sharing a selection of these photos on his Facebook wall proved costly for an independent journalist from Dhaka, East Champaran district. A case has been registered against him.
FIR Over Facebook Post
The FIR was registered at the Dhaka police station of the Motihari district, from where a large number of people attended the Iftar party at the CM's residence. MLC Khalid Anwar, who lives in Dhaka, too, had posted the photos on his Facebook account. However, Fazlul Mobin, son of the Imam of Jama Masjid in Dhaka and a local YouTuber, commented on a Facebook post, mentioning the Waqf Bill and sharing some pictures.
The picture was downloaded from MLC Dr Khalid Anwar's post. It featured several people, including Mohd Asgar, the block president of the Dhaka Kisan Cell. Fazlul Mobin posted three pictures on his Facebook account and commented, "I am ashamed to say that I am from Dhaka. For these people, Nitish Kumar is above Imaraat-e-Sharia, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Jamiat Ahle Hadith and Muslim Personal Law. Waqf is our constitutional right and also a matter of Sharia. At least they could have considered this," he wrote in the post.
Soon, the matter escalated and on March 26, Asgar, the JDU Kisan Cell's Dhaka block president, filed a complaint at the Dhaka police station, stating, "My picture from the Iftar party is being used with abusive and disrespectful language to tarnish my image and reputation. He is continuously posting and harassing me mentally and socially." Following this, the police took action and registered a case. The police also had Fazlul Mobin's Facebook post deleted.
Speaking to ABP News, Fazlul Mobin questioned whether speaking against the government has become a crime. "This incident raises questions about the state of democracy in Bihar. We are the Waqf Amendment Act. This incident has also raised questions about freedom of expression in the state's politics and society," he said.
Mobin Aleges MLC's Hand In 'Tarnishing' Image
The matter gained momentum after the FIR was registered when Fazlul Mobin claimed that this was orchestrated by MLC Khalid Anwar. Mobin said, "I know Khalid Anwar well. He knows me too. This is a complete conspiracy by him. Mohammad Asgar is his close associate, through whom he has filed the FIR."
On this matter, MLC Dr Khalid Anwar stated that he was not aware of the matter. "I know Mohammad Asgar well. He is a leader of our party, but this is a local matter. Some dispute has taken place at the local level. I have received very little information, but I have nothing to do with it," he said.