We celebrated our 62nd Independence Day with the zeal and enthusiasm it deserves for being free citizens of the free nation. But indeed we are yet to enjoy our freedom as we, especially Muslims who have been facing ill-treatment at the hands of their own government as well as communal and fascist leaders.
Exactly three days before the Independence Day a BJP parliamentarian Ramakant Yadav and his men opened fire on Rashtriya Ulema Council (RUC) rally in Phoolpur in Azamgarh district in which a youth Rehman died and three others Zahid, Farhan and Imran suffered gunshot injuries. Ramakant Yadav, who won the election from Azamgarh on a BJP ticket, is a history-sheeter with over 30 criminal cases under the Goonda Act and the Gangsters Act against him.
It is high time the Government purged the Parliament of criminal elements ruling the roost there. Civil liberty organisation should also put pressure on the Government to punish the guilty and ensure non-criminal legislature.
Shafaque Alam
New Delhi