BHOPAL: After spending five months in jail for allegedly raising anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans, Faizal alias Faizan, a resident of Bhopal, saluted the national flag and raised the slogan “Bharat Mata ki Jai” 21 times at the Misrod police station on Tuesday.
Recently released on bail, Faizan saluted the national tri-colour in compliance with conditions set by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
On October 15, the High Court's single-judge bench, headed by Justice Dinesh Kumar Paliwal, granted him bail, noting his “criminal background” comprising 14 criminal cases, including a video showing him shouting pro-Pakistan slogans.
The court said, “While the applicant has a criminal background and is seen in the video shouting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and ‘Hindustan Murdabad,’ taking into consideration all facts and circumstances, the court is of the view that the applicant may be released on bail by imposing some conditions which may instill in him a sense of responsibility and pride for the country in which he was born and lives.”
Among the bail conditions, the court mandated that Faizan must appear at the Misrod police station between 10 AM and 12 noon on the first and fourth Tuesday of every month until the conclusion of his trial. He was also required to salute the national flag unfurled at the police station and raise the slogan “Bharat Mata ki Jai” 21 times.
Manish Raj Bhadoria, in-charge of the Misrod police station, confirmed, “He has complied with the High Court’s directions today, which was the fourth Tuesday of the month. A compliance report will be sent to the High Court. Similar reports will be submitted on the first and fourth Tuesday of every month until the conclusion of his trial. If he misses attendance on either of these Tuesdays, a report marking him absent will be sent to the High Court.”
Faizan on Tuesday said, “I’ve realized that I made a grave mistake, and I will never repeat it. I will proudly say ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ everywhere. Making reels and raising such (pro-Pakistan and anti-India) slogans on someone else’s challenge was a big mistake. No one should ever go against the country.”
In May, Faizan was arrested by the Bhopal police and charged under Section 153B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for making statements prejudicial to national integration.