Definitely this should not be the policy of a democratic state, especially of India’s dimensions. But unfortunately this is the policy being repeatedly adopted by our government against countless Muslim youths.
BJP, the main opposition party, accuses the ruling party of appeasing the largest minority, the Muslims, and the ruling party in its turn, to mollify BJP, routinely arrests and throws behind bars hundreds of Muslim youths for crimes they never committed.
In August 2012, about two dozen educated Muslim youths from Karnataka and Maharashtra, accused of hatching a conspiracy to kill prominent Hindutva leaders and some journalists in Karnataka were arrested. One of the accused was Aijaz Ahmad Mirza, who was a Junior Research Fellow with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). After being behind bars for six months, he has been cleared of allegations by National Investigation Agency (NIA). Media had been publishing all sort of rubbish against him. As if this ordeal was not enough, he was served with a notice of termination of his job on 12 February 2013. Is it not another case of continuing the unacknowledged policy of keeping Muslims from Defence Sector jobs?
Compare this with the case of Lt. Col. Purohit, who is accused of participating in terror attacks on Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and Malegaon mosque. He is comfortably receiving his salary and allowances regularly for the last four years.
When Sachar Committee sought information about the number of Muslims in armed forces, Mr. L.K. Advani sprang to his feet and pleaded that the secular character of armed forces should not be put to test by ascertaining the number of Muslims in armed forces. DRDO should have stood by its wronged employee and provided him with all help to fight for his rights and dignity. But by dismissing him they have added salt to his injury.
Another case is of Muthi-ur-Rahman Siddiqui, a journalist with Deccan Herald. He was also thrown behind bars for six months and honourably cleared by NIA and released. He was accused of being the mastermind of the conspiracy. Now the question which haunts him is: will he be taken back on his job?
Loss of or denial of job is a minor irritant. But the daily ration of disgrace which is given to the Muslim community as one which produces and promotes terrorists is a far more painful humiliation.
It is important to fight this trend and refuse to be degraded and disgraced. It is a human rights battle and a democratic fight. The wronged youths are not alone in their battle. All those who stand for justice are with them.