Congress MP Calls Dr Umar a ‘Misguided Youth’, Defence of Bomber Triggers Political Storm

New Delhi: After the death of 14 people in the car blast near Delhi's Red Fort, Congress MP Imran Masood created a new controversy by calling the accused Dr. Umar-un-Nabi a "misguided youth." Masood said that suicide attacks are not approved in any form in Islam and killing innocents is condemnable in any case.

What was there in Dr. Omar's video that increased the controversy?

In a new video of Omar recorded before the attack, he appeared to claim in English that the suicide attack was a misunderstood idea and should be called a "martyrdom mission." According to the investigating agencies, this clip shows his fanatic thinking.

Why did BJP attack Imran Masood?

After Masood's statement, BJP leaders reacted strongly. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala accused him of being part of the “save terrorists gang” and said the Congress was trying to save terrorists in the name of vote bank politics. He said that when the blast mastermind is justifying suicide attacks, Congress leaders call him a “misguided youth.”

What did other BJP leaders say?

Former UP minister Mohsin Raza also took a dig at Congress. He alleged that Congress has misled many educated youth who later joined terrorist organizations. Raza also raised the question of in which period organizations like SIMI flourished.

What has been revealed in the investigation?

Investigators believe that the blast on November 10 was not a planned suicide attack but a premature explosion. Dr. Umar was planning a big blast. The video indicated that he was trying to influence people by misinterpreting Islamic principles.

Who was involved in the Faridabad terror module?

According to investigating agencies, this module, linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, consisted of 9–10 members, of whom 5–6 were doctors. All of them were associated with the infamous Al-Falah University of Faridabad and used to collect explosive material using medical identity.

What happened in the blast?

On November 10, a blast occurred on a busy road near the historic Red Fort. The massive explosion shattered the shutters of shops, killing 14 people and injuring more than 20. Within minutes there was chaos in a crowded area like Old Delhi.