Yogi Govt Slaps NSA Against Gorakhpur Doctor Kafeel Khan For Anti-CAA Remarks

Kafeel Khan, suspended Gorakhpur doctor has been slapped with the National Security Act (NSA) over his alleged inflammatory speech at the Aligarh Muslim University during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests. Khan who presently is lodged at Mathura jail gave the speech last year on December 12. He, however, was granted bail on Monday but he has not been released yet.

"We got to know on Friday morning that NSA has been slapped on Kafeel and now he will not be coming out of jail soon. This is simply unacceptable. He is being targeted at the behest of the state government," news agency IANS quoted Khan’s brother Adeel as saying.

Khan allegedly made a provocative speech during the ‘Open Talk’ in AMU campus during the protest and was then booked. An FIR was registered against him under section 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) of IPC at the civil lines police station on December 13.

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The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been one the most talked about issues in the country for several weeks now. The passage of the contentious act created tensions in different parts of the country. Starting from Assam, Uttar Pradesh to New Delhi, violent protests erupted, culminating into huge damage of public properties. The Citizenship Act protests, which agitators tout as Anti-Muslim, spread far and wide and prohibitory orders (Section 144) and internet shutdowns have also become the order of the day.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) aims to amend the definition of illegal immigrant for Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who have lived in India without proper documents. According to the act those who have been living here will be granted fast track Indian citizenship in six years. So far 12 years of residence has been the standard eligibility requirement for naturalisation.

Last September, Khan rose to news after 70 infants died at the BRD Medical College, reports suggested that a UP government inquiry has given a clean chit to Khan in the case. Dr Khan was suspended following the death of children in the hospital in August 2017. The government has maintained that the children died due to different illnesses, including Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and there was no shortage of oxygen.