Social Democratic Party of India

Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), is stunned at the brutal murder of Advocate Shahid Azmi of Mumbai, who was defending one of the co-accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the accused in the Mumbai train serial blasts and other terror related cases in which Muslim youths have been arrested.

The SDPI believes that Shahid Azmi was bumped off for being ‘anti-establishment’ and ‘anti-police’. It allegedly seems that the only people who could have had a motive in getting rid of Azmi were the police. He was the only lawyer who had the maximum cases showing that the police were fabricating evidence against Muslim community, especially the youth. 

It is unfortunate to state that a prominent lawyer who worked selflessly, tirelessly for the cause of oppressed Muslims was under threat for over a year but he was not provided security cover by the Maharashtra Government. It is a murder most foul.

The prophecy that he would die a martyr came true as Shahid himself used to say to his family and friends: "I would die a shaheed”.

It would be in the fitness of things that the Maharashtra Government should order for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation and approach the Central Government for the same. The accused should be nabbed at the earliest and handed over exemplary punishment. This would re-instill confidence among the minorities who are disillusioned by the present regime’s uncaring attitude towards it.