‘BJP trying to save Ajmer dargah blast accused, convicts’

JAIPUR: Ajmer Muslims registered their protest against the National Investigative Agency (NIA) at Dargah Bazaar for not challenging the suspension of life imprisonment of two Ajmer Dargah blast convicts by the Rajasthan High Court on August 29.
The members of Garib Nawaz Sufi Saint Society attempted to confront union minorities minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and claimed that he cancelled his Dargah visit due to them.Naqvi was in Ajmer to participate in the Dargah Committee meeting.
Syed Zulfiqar Chishti of Garib Nawaz Sufi Saint Society accused BJP of making all efforts to save the accused and convicts in the case. “The investigation agency NIA had kept us in dark. Soon after the judgement on March 8, 2017 acquitting the key conspirator Swami Aseemanand and six others, they expressed to challenge the verdict. It didn't happened and time lapsed. Those convicted-- Bhavesh Patel and Devendra Gupta will now soon be out of jail. Is this not injustice?," asked Chishti.
The blast on October 11, 2007 in the 12th century shrine of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty minutes before the break of Iftaar leaving three pilgrims dead and 15 injured. The NIA special Court had convicted Bhavesh Patel, Davendra Gupta, Sunil Joshi and acquitted seven others including Swami Aseemanand on March 8, 2017. Joshi died under mysterious circumstances soon after the bombing. The high court while suspending the conviction held that there was no solid evidence to back conviction.
The protesters waited for the Naqvi at the Dargah Bazaar demanding explanation why his ministry remained a mute spectator during the case but he didn't turned up. “Dargah Committee, a body which works under government has never made any contribution in the case. The priest family of Dargah will not sit quitly now and will use all democratic means to tell the followers of the Sufi Saint of what the government has done to destroy the secular fabric of this country,” said Syed Sarwar Chishti, khadim of Dargah Ajmer and complainant in the case.
TOI called Dargah Committee president Ameen Pathan who doubles up as the chairperson of the Rajasthan Haj Committee but got no response. TOI also called Alok Mittal, spokesperson NIA for his version but got no response.