New Delhi(Agencies):
In a major decision, the Union Home Ministry on Thursday blacklisted at least
2000 foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists from traveling to India for ten years.
According to the sources, the Home Ministry took the action against the foreign
nationals for their alleged involvement in the activities of Tablighi Jamaat,
which is headed by Maulana Saad.
It may be noted that Maulana
Saad, his sons and several Tablighi Jamaat members are under scanner for
defying the government order on lockdown and organising a religious
congregation at the outfit's Delhi headquarters - Nizamuddin Markaz – in March
this year
The religious event organised by
Maulana Saad’s outfit was held responsible for the spread of coronavirus cases
in Delhi. The Home Ministry had last month blacklisted and cancelled visas of
at least 960 foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists for attending the Markaz event
defying the government’s lockdown order.
Four Americans, nine Britishers
and six Chinese nationals were among those who were blacklisted by the MHA.
Action against the foreign
Tablighi Jamaat members was taken after over 2,300 activists, including 250
foreigners of the Islamic organisation, were found to be living at its
headquarters located at Delhi's Nizamuddin despite the 21-day lockdown imposed
to check the spread of coronavirus.
Hundreds of these Tablighi Jamaat
activists had tested positive for Covid-19 and many of them were put in
different quarantine centres. At least 9,000 people had participated at the
congregation at the Nizamuddin Markaz in March after which many have travelled
to various parts of the country for missionary works.
The Home Ministry had also
directed the Delhi Police and police chiefs of other states, which these
foreigners visited later, to take legal action under the Foreigners Act and the
Disaster Management Act.
Most of these foreigners came to
India on a tourist visa, which prohibits involvement in any religious
activities. The government later decided not to issue a tourist visa to any
foreigner who wishes to visit India and take part in Tablighi activities.
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