Uttar Pradesh journalists demand Bukhari’s arrest

LUCKNOW - Journalists of Lucknow Friday urged Chief Minister Mayawati to order arrest of Delhi Jama Masjid’s Imam, Maulana Ahmed Bukhari, who had assaulted a reporter at a press conference called by him here Thursday.

A resolution demanding action against Bukhari was passed at an emergency meeting of Uttar Pradesh Accredited Correspondents Committee here Friday, and committee president Hisam Siddiqui handed over a copy to state Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh in the office of the chief minister.

A criminal case has already been registered against Bukhari, who not only assaulted Abdul Waheed Chishti, editor of Urdu weekly “Dastaan-e-Awadh” but also threatened him with dire consequences in full view of journalists and policemen.

Bukhari had got enraged over a pointed query about ownership of the disputed land at Ayodhya.

However, no action has been initiated against him so far.

Journalists of the state have also appealed to journalists across the country to boycott Bukhari.