LUCKNOW, Dec 13: Prominent shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad had made a strong protest over suspension of his passport by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for a period of four weeks over his proposed visit to Iraq.
” The action of the government is arbitrary and it was against the ethis as well as undemocratic,” he stated here today. The Maulana said that he will clarify his stand before the ministry as his intention to visit to Iraq was solely for religious purpose and nothing else.
As per the reports, MEA has asked Jawwad to explain as to why his passport should not be impounded or revoked beyond the suspension period.
Jawwad along with six others of Anjuman-e-Haideri were detained at Delhi airport when they were on to board a flight to Iraq on November 24.
Jawwad had later slammed his detention and claimed that the delegation wanted to meet Iraq Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and Shia cleric Ayatollah Syed Ali Siestani. Jawwad, who had received a letter from the MEA, has been asked to surrender his passport at Lucknow passport office. The four week suspension order is effective from November 23. The MEA letter states that Jawwad’s passport has been suspended as per section 10(3) to be read with 10 (A) of Passports Act, 1967 which states that “if the passport authority deems it necessary so to do in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of India, friendly relations of India with any foreign country, or in the interests of the general public”.
(AGENCIES)
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