Vanni Arasu, the Deputy General Secretary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), has once again sparked controversy by defending individuals accused of involvement with the banned international extremist organization Hizb-ut-Tahrir, which is linked to alleged terrorist recruitment and radicalization efforts. Vanni Arasu, on his X platform, claimed that those under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are innocent, arguing that they have no ties to terrorism. He urged the Tamil Nadu government to step in and prevent the transfer of the case to the NIA.
The statement has drawn criticism from the online community, with many condemning Arasu’s stance as supportive of terrorist activities. Reports have emerged detailing the detention of Dr. Hamid Hussain from Royapettah, Chennai, a Petroleum Chemical Engineer and Honorary Professor at Anna University. He was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) along with his father Ahmed Mansoor and brother. Ahmed Mansoor is also the editor of Islamist magazine Suvadu.They had published a Hizb-ut-Tahrir propaganda book compiling sixty hadiths about establishing a Caliphate. The book, promoted by Hizb-ut-Tahrir supporters, was published by Classic Publishers, owned by Mansoor. The Cyber Crime division of the Chennai Central Crime Branch charged them with affiliations to Hizb-ut-Tahrir.
Following this, three more individuals from Chennai were detained for their alleged connections to the initial detainees.
The NIA has since broadened the scope of the investigation, led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police. The agency has stated that the serious nature of the accusations warrants their direct involvement. Dr. Hussain is under suspicion for his role in recruiting for terrorist organizations and his international travel history is being examined. It has been discovered that four associates of Hussain have turned off their mobile phones and are currently evading capture.
The investigation has uncovered that Hussain organized training and meetings to disseminate extremist ideologies in various locations, including Chennai, Karur, and Kanyakumari. Authorities are also looking into the ‘Modern Essential Educational Trust,’ suspected of being created for similar activities, and are attempting to locate those connected to it. The group is known to have used platforms like YouTube to recruit and radicalize youth in Tamil Nadu.
தீவிரவாத அமைப்பிற்கு ஆள் சேர்த்த வழக்கு – தமிழகத்தில் மேலும் இரண்டு இடங்களில் ரகசிய கூட்டம் நடத்தியது கண்டுபிடிப்பு : போலீசார் #Terrorism | #Tamilnadu | #Police | #SecretMeeting pic.twitter.com/kDK9YvT9R3
— Polimer News (@polimernews) May 28, 2024
But shockingly, VCK Deputy General Secretary Vanni Arasu came out in defence of the accused men allegedly involved in terror recruitment
In his X post he said,“6 people including Suvadu editor Mansoor arrested under UAPA Act: Is this happening with the knowledge of the Chief Minister?
He further added “Mr. Mansoor (A) Ahmed Mansoor, editor of ‘Suvadu’ magazine in Chennai, his sons Dr. Hamid Hussain and Abdul Rahman have been arrested by the Central Crime Branch Cyber Crime Police under the ‘UAPA’ Act. Ahmed Ali, Mohammad Maurice, Qader Nawaz Sharif and 3 others have been arrested in this case. According to media reports, he has been accused of acting against Indian sovereignty, campaigning against the democratic electoral system and for holding meetings and campaigning for the establishment of an Islamic regime. It is also said that the NIA has sought details of the case from the cyber-crime police.
He added that the the YouTube page in the name of ‘Dr. Hameed Hussain’ that is said to have been used for propaganda by the police, can be still see today. “On the page that was launched on November 30, 2023, there are total 33 videos of Dr.Hamid Hussain speaking. Although most of them contain content about Islam, we can learn that some videos contain comments on democracy, electoral system, global Islamic governance, and the current political events.“, Vanni Arasu defended.
He further went on to say “When we watch certain videos, it is clear to us that although Brother Hameed Hussain is well aware of the Indian social structure-political reality, he has a philosophy that emphasizes a very narrow spiritual-political vision as a solution to the reasonable political action to be taken to change it.”
Defending the radical Islamist ideologies peddled by the terror accused, the INDI Ally leader said theo-political doctrine that advocated for Islamic Caliphate were not banned in India so far.
“It is alleged that Suvadu’s Mansoor and his sons were members of an international organization called Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT). This organization was started in 1952 in Palestine. It presents a Theo-political doctrine that advocates an Islamic State/Caliphate across national boundaries. This particular system is banned in Russia, Germany, Egypt and Arab countries. It was also recently banned in Britain. It is noteworthy that it has not been banned in India so far.”, he said.
He further added that since 2020, many youths have been arrested by the NIA under the UAPA Act for spreading the ideas of this organization and went on to sing praises for the terror accused saying “Dr. Hameed Hussain’s father Suvadu Mansoor is active in small magazine and publishing platforms. From 2007 to 2012, he ran a monthly magazine called ‘Suvadu’. Since 2020, he has been running an e-magazine and website with the same name. Suvadu Mansoor’s journalistic and publishing work illustrates his staunch Periyar-Ambedkarian policy stance. The books published by Suvadu publishing house are the witness to that. Some of them are: 1. Periyar’s Why women become a slave? 2. Periyar is living, 3. Periyar: Father of Tamil Nationality 4. Periyar and the Maraimalai Adigalar, 5. Hinduism: A Brahmanical fraud, 6. Reservation: Constitution of India and Ambedkar’s Thoughts, 7. Dravidian Traces: Dawns of the Dravidian race: Periyar – Anna, 8. Deceptive public education 9. Kalaignar Anthadi, 10. Thalapathy Virutham. All these are the publications of Suvadu Publishing House.”
He went on to justify the meetings held by in the hall of the Modern Essential Education Trust (MEET) which is said to have been used for secret meetings saying that the topics discussed at the Eid-milan meeting are Islamic Tamil Literature – Marxism and Islam – Tamil nationalism and Islam, Periyar and Islam, Islam and Muslims, Is there a need for common civil code? – Discussion, what’s is going on Manipur? – Seminar etc.
“There is no doubt that the theological theory of Dr. Hamid Hussain’s views is contrary to the political theory presented by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal. But the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal has been insisting on the stance of complete withdrawal of black laws like UAPA. When the series of arrests were happening in POTA, when everyone was afraid to talk about it, it was our leader Thirumavalavan who formed the first anti-POTA federation in the country.”, he said.
He went on to defend the terror accused saying “So far there is no information anywhere of violent incident or tension situation that leading to violence due to the activities of Dr. Hamid Hussain. His father’s activities have also been within the democratic framework so far. It is unacceptable that Muslim youths are being arrested across the country for supporting a movement that is not banned in India.”
He then made absurd comparisons to Sangh Parivar saying “Isn’t the activities of the Sangh Parivar group, which is talking about establishing a Hindu Rashtra, saying that this is the country of Hindus, and will not accept revolutionary Ambedkar’s secular constitution, and establishing Sanatana Dharma, and taking weapons training for it, be considered terrorism? Will they not harm Indian sovereignty? When they protested against POTA, they threatened that the next arrest will be Thirumavalavan”.
He called for the revoking the preventive detention of the terror accused. He said “Arresting those who oppose Sanatan terrorism by running a publishing house with Dravidian ideology is against the right of expression. The question also arises whether this arrest is being done with the knowledge of the Chief Minister. The charges leveled against them should be transferred to other sections and proper investigation should be conducted. The case should not be handed over to the NIA. Therefore, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Hon’ble @mkstalin should immediately take steps to cancel the case against 6 people including Mansoor. – Vanni Arasu 29.05.24″
சுவடு பதிப்பக ஆசிரியர் மன்சூர் உள்ளிட்ட 6 பேர் ஊபா சட்டத்தில் கைது: முதல்வருக்கு தெரிந்து தான் நடக்கிறதா?
சென்னையில் ‘சுவடு’ இதழின் ஆசிரியர் திரு.மன்சூர் (எ) அகமது மன்சூர், அவரது மகன்கள் Dr. ஹமீது உசேன், மற்றும் அப்துல் ரகுமான் ஆகியோரை மத்திய குற்றப்பிரிவு சைபர் கிரைம்… pic.twitter.com/b8agTnUTs8
— வன்னி அரசு (@VanniKural) May 29, 2024
This incident is not unprecedented. Vani Arasu and the VCK have previously encountered criticism for advocating parole for an individual implicated in the Coimbatore bombings until his eventual release, urging the Tamil Nadu government for his release. Vani Arasu declared, “We met elder Badshah who has been released from Coimbatore jail on bail at his residence. He demanded that he should be granted parole till his release. We request Government of Tamil Nadu immediately to take a bold decision without expecting the Governor on the release of life prisoners. Not just a Viduthalai-Islamic community; but Tamil Nadu is waiting.”
கோவை சிறையிலிருந்து பிணையில் விடுதலையாகியுள்ள #பெரியவர்_பாட்ஷா அவர்களை
அவரது கோவை இல்லத்தில் சந்தித்தோம்.
விடுதலை செய்யப்படும் வரை பரோல் வழங்க வேண்டும் எனும் கோரிக்கையை முன்வைத்தார்.
தமிழ்நாடு அரசு உடனடியாக
ஆயுள் சிறைவாசிகள் விடுதலையில்
ஆளுனரை எதிர்பாராமல் துணிந்து முடிவெடுக்க… pic.twitter.com/ZOQrV1RWmX— வன்னி அரசு (@VanniKural) November 17, 2023
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