Muslim leaders belonging to the various representative organisations, in a joint statement on August 18, unreservedly condemned the criminal and mischievous campaign against people of North Eastern origin in certain parts of the country like Karnataka and Maharashtra for which modern media like bulk email, text and video messaging is being used.
The statement says inter alia:
“We also appeal to our respected Imams and Khateebs to avail the occasion of the Eid prayers and make an appeal to the Muslim masses in their sermons to maintain calm, peace and brotherhood. We also appeal to the Muslim masses to beware of the communal forces’ designs and remain vigilant to maintain peace and amity in their respective localities.
“We also appeal to the Muslim community in the country and especially in the affected areas to cooperate and assure their brothers and sisters from North Eastern states that they are safe and secure and should not panic and leave their studies, jobs or businesses. Muslims should also offer the distressed persons to come and live in their houses and institutions until the situation becomes normal.
“We request the concerned authorities in all affected areas to meticulously probe the source(s) of these SMSs and punish the guilty without mercy. We have reason to believe that this criminal campaign is orchestrated by the same people who are hell-bent to turn the present ethnic cleansing campaign in the Bodo Territorial Council areas into a foreigners and intruders’ issue, which it is not. We are reminded by a similar campaign in Assam in May 2005 which had affected lakhs of people. Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi had at the time squarely blamed the BJP saying that the BJP and RSS are trying to foment communal tension in Assam. We hope the authorities will not develop cold feet in probing the origins of the present campaign and punishing them.”
The signatories to the statement are Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat; Muhammad Jafar, Vice President, Jamaat-e Islami Hind; Mujtaba Farooq, Convenor, Coordination Committee Indian Muslims on Assam; Abdul Khaliq, General Secretary, Lok Janshakti Party; Ml. Asghar Imam Mehdi, General Secretary, Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e Hadees; Ml. Abdul Hameed Nomani, Secretary, Jamiat Ulama-e Hind; Navaid Hamid, General Secretary, Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians; Dr Taslim Rahmani, President, Muslim Political Council; and Dr Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, Member, Working Committee, Muslim Personal Law Board.