The controversial speech was made by Sharjeel Imam, who was part of the Shaheen Bagh Organising Committee but quit following an altercation with other members. (Photo: Facebook/SharjeelImam)

The video of a controversial speech, allegedly delivered at an anti-CAA protest, has triggered a controversy with the BJP terming its content as "anti-national" and the Assam government and UP Police filing cases against the speaker.

The speaker, Sharjeel Imam, who is an activist and one of the faces behind the Shaheen Bagh protest, has called for cutting off Assam and Northeast from the rest of India. The video of the speech has gone viral on social media.

In the video, shared by BJP leader Sambit Patra, Sharjeel Imam calls upon people to "agitate and cut off Assam and the Northeast from rest of India". He said if he can organise five lakh people, it would become possible to "permanently cut off Assam with rest of India...if not permanently, then at least for a few months".

In the speech, allegedly made at an anti-CAA protest, Sharjeel Imam said:

"Ab waqt ye hai ki hum gair Musalmanon ko bolen ki agar hamdard ho, toh hamari sharton pe aake khade ho. Agar hamari sharton pe nahi khade ho sakte, toh hamdard nahi.

"Main pehle bhi keh chuka hun ki agar 5 lakh log hon hamare paas organised, to hum Hindustan aur Assam ko permanently cut kar sakte hain. Permanently nahi, toh kam se kam ek aad mahine k liye toh kar hi sakte hain."

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"Matlab itna mavaad dalo patriyon pe, road pe ki unko hatane main hi ek aad mahina lag jaye...Assam ko kaatna hamari jimmedari hai. Assam aur India cut ke alag ho jaye, tabhi ye hamari baat sunenge."

"Assam main Musalmanoon ka jo haal hai wo hum sab ko pata hai. CAA, NRC ho chukka hai wahan...detention centre main log dale ja rahe hain. Wahan toh katleaam chal raha hai...pata chalega ki cheh-aath mahinon main sare bangaliyon...chahe Hindu ho ya Muslamaan...ko maar diya jayega."

"Agar humain Assam ki madad karni hai toh hamain Assam ka raasta band karna hoga fauj k liye...aur job bhi supply aa rahi hai. Aur hum band kar sakte hain. Ye chicken neck Musalmanon ka hai...wo jo ilaqa hai, Muslim aksariyat hai."

"Yaad rakhiye, agar awaam gusse main hai, toh us gusse ka productive use karna chahiye. Ye jimmedari hai ki hum ise productively use kar payen...rather than waste it on photo sessions."

(English translation: The time has come when should tell non-Muslims that if they sympathise with us, then they must stand with us on our terms. If they can't agree to our terms, they can't sympathise with us.

I have said it in the past that if we can organise five lakh people, we will be able to permanently cut off Assam from India. If not permanently, then at least for a month or two.

Create ruckus on railway tracks and roads so that it takes them (government) at least a month to clear things on ground. It is our responsibility to isolate Assam. They (government) will hear us only if we cut off Assam and India.

The plight of Muslims in Assam is known to all of us. CAA and NRC have been implemented there. People are already being sent to detention centres. There is a bloodbath going on there. In six-eight months, you may find out that all Bengalis (Hindus and Muslims) have been killed.

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So, if we want to help Assam, then we will have to block the way for the Army to reach Assam...and also stop the supplies.

We can do this. The chicken-neck corridor that connects the Northeast with rest of India is inhabited primarily by Muslims.

Remember, if the masses are angry, then that anger must be used for productive purpose. This is our responsibility. We should use this anger productively and not waste it on photo sessions.)

:

)

)Chicken Neck

) Assam

)

If this is not ANTI NATIONAL then what is? pic.twitter.com/kgxl3GLwx1 Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) January 25, 2020

WHAT IS CHICKEN'S NECK CORRIDOR?

The chicken-neck corridor is a narrow strategic 22 km wide stretch near Siliguri that connects Northeast with the rest of India. This 22km stretch is only land link between India and its northeast. Nearly 98% of Northeast's borders are shared with foreign countries (Bhutan, china (Tibet), Myanmar and Bangladesh).

WHO IS SHARJEEL IMAM?

The controversial speech whose text is quoted above was purportedly made by one Sharjeel Imam, who was part of the Shaheen Bagh Organising Committee.

Sources have told India Today TV that Sharjeel Imam was among the people who were instrumental in organising the protests at Shaheen Bagh. Sources also said there were altercations between Sharjeel Imam and other members of the organising committee.

At present, he is no longer part of the Shaheen Bagh Coordination Committee and is neither involved in the protests, sources said.

India Today TV could not authenticate the video shared by Sambit Patra on Twitter. It is also unknown if the video was recorded when Sharjeel Imam was part of the coordination committee or was it recorded after he quit.

While condemning the incident at Nankana Sahib, we want to put on record that WE DID NOT RELEASE THIS. THERE IS NO SHAHEEN BAGH COORDINATION COMMITTEE. The views expressed are of individuals who aren't in association with the movement anymore. #NankanaSahib #ShaheenBagh@AltNews pic.twitter.com/t5rKuR9yTi Shaheen Bagh Official (@Shaheenbaghoff1) January 6, 2020

CONFUSION OVER LOCATION OF SPEECH

While some have suggested Imam's address was made at Shaheen Bagh, others have claimed it was made at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Speaking to India Today TV, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) spokesperson Shafe Kidwai said Sharjeel Imam visited AMU around 15 days ago for protest. "But we haven't received any information that he said something of this nature. A team from the proctor's office was present at the venue and the team has informed that the statements made in the viral video were not said at the event. We are investigating the case."

Meanwhile, taking note of the viral video, SSP Aligarh Akash Kulhari said the video is from an event held on January 16.

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SSP Kulhari claimed that the controversial speech was made during an event in AMU. "He made anti-national statements inside the university and a case of sedition has been registered against him at Civil Lines police station," SSP Kulhari said.

ASSAM GOVT, BJP LEADER, HINDU SENA FILE POLICE COMPLAINTS

Meanwhile, taking note of the video, the BJP government in Assam has said it will file a case against Sharjeel Imam for the content of his speech.

Senior Assam BJP leader and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "The main organiser of Shaheen Bagh protest, Sharjeel has said that Assam should be cut off from the rest of India. The state government has taken cognisance of this seditious statement and has decided to register a case against him."

In Delhi, a complaint has been filed by Hindu Sena's national president Vishnu Gupta has filed a police complaint against Sharjeel Imam at Amar Colony police station.

Aligarh police to book anti-CAA protester Sharjeel Imam for sedition#ITVideo

More videos at https://t.co/wMGGKJy9GN pic.twitter.com/fkttC6QTIJ India Today (@IndiaToday) January 25, 2020

Another complaint was filed by BJP leader Vivek Garg.

Earlier in the day, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "We have evidence to show that some kind of conspiracy is brewing up in Shaheeen Bagh to finish the sovereignty and independence of India," Sambit Patra said.

Sambit Patra also tweeted video of Sharjeel Imam's controversial speech. He claimed the speech was made at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh and in it the speaker can be seen encouraging people to "cut-off Assam from rest of India".

Sambit Patra wrote that the speaker also said that it is their responsibility to isolate Assam. "If this is not anti national, then what is," Sambit Patra asked, sharing the video.

Later, addressing his press conference, Sambit Patra said, "The manner in which anti-national statements were being made in that speech is not only disturbing, but also seditious."

(With inputs from Shivendra Shrivastava in Aligarh and Ankit Ojha in New Delhi.)

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