Dhaka: Days after being released from jail, Jashimuddin Rahmani, the chief of Islamist outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team, urged West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to “free West Bengal from Modi’s rule” and declare the state as “independent”
The group, an offshoot of terror outfit al-Qaida, is banned in India. As per media reports, Rahmani has reportedly also sought help from Afghanistan and Pakistan for the “independence of Jammu and Kashmir”. His video message has gone viral on social media.
Rahmani was arrested in 2013
It may be noted that Rahmani was earlier arrested in 2013 on charges of killing Ahmed Rajib Haider, a blogger who was critical of radical Islam. Rahmani was charged with encouraging students to kill Haider.
“I have a warning for India. Bangladesh isn’t like Bhutan or Sikkim, but a country of 18 crore Muslims. If you look to take a step towards our country, we will ask China to close the Siliguri corridor. Apart from this, we will also India’s northeastern states to join the freedom struggle,” Rahmani was quoted as saying in the viral video.
He added“ We will work for Kashmir’s freedom. We will also tell West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to free her state from Modi’s rule and declare it an independent country. We will tell the Sikhs that their time has come, and now should also call for freedom; to those Sikhs who are Khalistanis, in every state in India, the time has come. ”
‘No intention of having conflict’
The radical Islamist further said that while his country has no intention to have a conflict with any country across the world, including India, China, the US, and Europe, Bangladesh will retaliate in case of negligence or challenge.
