‘Simi front’ hosts Muslim scholars’ meet in Mumbai

The Khair-e-Ummat Trust, which is organising the three-day convention of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in Mumbai, has been declared as one of the frontal organisations of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (Simi) by the government in an affidavit filed before a judicial tribunal here earlier on Thursday.

The trust is among the 51 organisations the government believes are Simi fronts that aid the regrouping of its cadres to revive the banned outfit. The one-man justice VK Shali judicial tribunal began the hearing on the continuation of Simi ban last Wednesday.

A background note filed by the home ministry, the copy of which is with DNA, states that Simi has managed to keep its network alive through clandestine activities and frontal organisations. In Maharashtra, the documents lists  eight such organisations, with the Khair-e-Umaat Trust topping the order. Others from the state included Adara Khair-e-Ummat, Tehreek-e-Hayat-e-Ummat, Sabid Tulba Ki Tanzeen, Isla-e-Mashra, Fargen-e-Jamaat, Khidmat-Khalaq and Quran Foundation.

It also mentions Juhapura Youth Federation (Gujarat), Kurwai Sports Welfare Academy (MP) and Khizentul Kutubul Islamia (Karnataka) as Simi fronts.

Rejecting any linkages with the Simi, Khair-e-Ummat Trust secretary Ibrahim Khalil Abdi told DNA that they were engaged in providing scholarships, medical facilities and awareness campaigns about government schemes. “Those running the trust are reputed persons.”

“Our chairman Abdul Gani Attarwala is aged nearly 80 and vice-chairman Ali M Shams is also around 70. It is a big joke to link us with Simi,” says Abidi. He claimed their trust was registered with the government and even granted IT-exemption.

Further, the government document says the Simi activists have managed to enter political parties for putting pressure on government to lift ban. Moreso, it sympathisers of the SIMI from Jamia Millia Islamia, Hamdard University and JNU had arranged a meting in Delhi in December 2011 pledging they would do anything to get the Babri Masjid reconstructed at the very site.

Further, the three day convention of AIMPLB is scheduled to discuss Muslim responses to right to education, direct tax code, legacy rule in agricultural property and the latest government decision on registration of marriages.