A tweet by Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh alleging the Telangana Police of radicalising Muslim youths and encouraging them “to become ISIS modules” has elicited strong criticism from the top brass of the police department and a minister of the state.
On Monday morning, Singh had tweeted, “Telangana Police has set up a bogus ISIS site which is radicalising Muslim Youths and encouraging them to become ISIS Modules.”
Telangana Police has set up a bogus ISIS site which is radicalising Muslim Youths and encouraging them to become ISIS Modules.
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) May 1, 2017
The former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh added in a subsequent tweet that, “It was on their information that MP Police arrested accused who were responsible for the bomb blast in train in Shajapur District of MP.”
Singh went on to post more tweets that called on Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao to resign and asked if the CM authorised, “Telangana Police to trap Muslim Youths and encourage them to join ISIS?” and if he hadn’t, “then shouldn't he enquire and punish those who are responsible for committing such a heinous crime?”
His later tweets read, ‘It also resulted in Saifullaha encounter in Kanpur the same day.
“The issue is whether Telangana Police should be trapping Muslim Youths in becoming ISIS modules by posting inflammatory information?
Is It Ethical ? Is it Moral ? Has KCR authorised Telangana Police to trap Muslim Youths and encourage them to join ISIS?
If he has then shouldn't he own the responsibility and resign?”
Taking strong objection to Singh’s comments, K T Rama Rao, Telangana IT and Urban Minister and son of CM KCR said, “Most irresponsible & reprehensible thing coming from a former CM. Request you to withdraw these comments unconditionally or provide evidence.”
Most irresponsible & reprehensible thing coming from a former CM. Request you to withdraw these comments unconditionally or provide evidence https://t.co/cg7p7Ym48X
— KTR (@KTRTRS) May 1, 2017
The Director General of Police of Telangana, Anurag Sharma, also tweeted, “Unfounded allegations from a senior responsible leader will lower the morale and image of Police engaged in fighting anti-national forces.”
Unfounded allegations from a senior responsible leader will lower the morale and image of Police engaged in fighting anti-national forces https://t.co/vzR8dfVldc
— DGP TELANGANA POLICE (@TelanganaDGP) May 1, 2017
Telangana CM KCR's daughter and TRS MP K Kavitha also condemned the statement, calling the allegations "ridiculous, baseless”, while adding that it was “not expected of a senior politician."
Ridiculous. Baseless. Not expected off a senior politician. https://t.co/GRM9YzNGLo
— Kavitha Kalvakuntla (@RaoKavitha) May 1, 2017