DR. S. AUSAF SAIED VASFI pleads for defeating the efforts of communal elements to defame and alienate Indian Muslims. He says the fascists should not be allowed to succeed in their game of polarisation by spreading fear, hatred and suspicion. He opines that this will amount to cut our own limbs.
Our heart goes out to those men, women and children, who, for no fault of theirs, were killed or injured in the May 13 terrorist blasts. As we rush to the press, the official casualty figure stands at 64. Peace on their innocent souls. The number of the maimed or the injured is said to be in the vicinity of 200. Our sympathies with them. We pray for the early recovery of the tormented.
Discovering similarities in the modus operandi of the terrorist organisations like the Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami or Paskistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad and /or the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, politicians and political commentators have, once again, suspected their hand in the tragedy that struck the Pink City on the terrible Tuesday.
To the utter discomfiture of the Muslim segment of the plural polity of Bharat, this sort of less-than-responsible assertions only add to the difficulties of the principal minority in the various walks of life. Without any rhyme or reason, the Muslims find themselves standing in the dock.
CONFUSION
What has made the confusion worse confounded is the total absence of convictions of the accused in the past by any court of law. It goes without saying that almost in all cases, almost all the accused are educated Muslim young men. It looks as if Muslims have been found guilty without proper court proceedings. In the process, not only the fair name of the Muslims is tarnished but that of Islam is also blackened.
It is simply unjustified and unfair and runs into the face of democracy and rule of law, particularly when a Muslim accused is liquidated in a fake encounter. Such liquidations, which are not few, only weaken the Government case. The Muslim leadership has repeatedly been drawing attention of the powers that be, but of no avail. What happens is that such dubious encounters go to strengthen the Sangh Parivar’s non-case against Muslims. They receive deafening applause in their constituencies for such indefensible murders.
What further adds to the Muslim frustration is just non-implementation or half-hearted implementation of probes into anti-Muslim riots, as one sees in the case of Srikrishna Commission Report. So, we are afraid, is going to happen with the report of probe into the Gujarat massacre. Just think on the issue from the sufferers’ angle.
SELF ALIENATION
We do not say that external elements inimical to Bharat have become God-fearing. Nor is it the Muslim case that they have no exceptions. What is being sought to be underscored is: Please do not alienate your limbs from yourself. Indian Muslims are an inalienable part, part and parcel of India.
The terrorists do exist. They camouflage themselves through various devices. One of the devices of the “foreign hand” is that after a particular terrorist activity has been committed the anarchists, as in Jaipur, show their name as “Indian Mujahadeen” and I.D. as “guru [email protected]. In November 2006, they did so after the blasts in UP.
REAL CULPRITS
Why the real culprits are not caught and punished?
So happens because when a suspect belonging to a certain party or group is caught, he is silently let off. Lest his name should put that party or group in lurid lights. This has already happened in some northern states. The press repeatedly drew authorities’ attention towards this gross dishonesty and travesty of justice. But no one helped the Muslim leadership in this regard.
MEENA,VIJAY & MADHU?
Now in the case of Jaipur, some T.V. reportages repeatedly referred to the role of one “Meena Kumari” and one “Vijay” as well as one “Madhu Bengali.” Did the police and investigators take note or cognizance of the role of these people? Or the suspects happen to be apples of someone’s eye?
In the light of experience, we are afraid, either these names would be struck off the suspects list or too weak cases would be made against them.
The Saffron parties’ preposterous demand to frame laws on the pattern of POTA or TADA is understandable. That the conviction percentage under the said draconian laws has been next to negligible does not bother them.
Equally mindless rather provocative is the offer of the US that it is prepared to help New Delhi in investigation. It is another way to provide legitimacy to Israel’s questionable characters in Bharat. A big No needs to be told boldly to Washington. This offer itself is an insult to India.
MUSLIM CASE
As far as the Indian Muslims are concerned, their constituency is Bharat. Their only ambition is to live a life of dignity and elegance in their country and to serve it to the best of their capacity. They have no business with any subversive outfit. Islam does not permit them to do so. Any such activity does not attract them.
Now terrorism is a world phenomenon. Islam is on evil days and evil tongues. That puts an added, onerous responsibility on the Muslim shoulders. The truth is there is no escape for Muslims from sincerely discharging the Qur’anic responsibilities as world citizens and as citizens of plural Bharat – patiently and steadfastly.