DR. S. AUSAF SAIED VASFI comments on the recent Tehelka expose of Sri Ram Sene’s bid to organise a riot for money as well as on the ongoing CBI investigations into Ajmer, Hyderabad and Malegaon blasts, and appeals to the conscience of those at the helm of affairs to read the too-bold writing on the national wall, free the Muslim youths detained for no fault of theirs and take action against the real culprits in the greater interest of peace and above all the nation.
Is there any organisation, which on contract, can organise or does organise, communal disturbances in the country?
Now, the real architects of upheavals in Malegaon, Hyderabad and Ajmer are cooling their heels in jail, when the Muslim youth, jailed on mere suspicion for their role therein, would be set free.
Had the late lamented, Mr. Hemant Karkare been alive today, would the speed of the investigations into the cases and the subsequent trials of the Abhinav Bharat activists been as tardy and slow as it happens to be today?
GENUINE ANXIETY
These are the uncomfortable questions that have been agitating the Muslim mind for weeks. Muslim anxiety is genuine because of the ever-changing political affiliations, the first casualty of which usually is probity, uprightness and honesty of purpose. Without going into the details of how and why the parties led by Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mr Lalu Prasad switched gears in the Lok Sabha in April last, on the cut motion, we feel disturbed at the disquieting procrastination on the part of the otherwise well-meaning investigators.
Malegaon happened in 2006 and again in 2008; Ajmer in 2007 and Hyderabad also in 2007. Most probably, what is causing delay is the link between the blasts at the three places. Common modus operandi behind the crimes must also be contributing to the delays. Our feeling is if the investigators go deep into Nanded, Jalna and Parbhani, they are bound to get further evidence of the Saffron hand in them.
It has also been let out now that the Ajmer blasts accused had done recci of Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad. The CBI has found the SIM cards used in the phones to trigger the blasts in Makkah Masjid and Ajmer Dargah belonged to the same series.
RSS HAND IN AJMER
A lost link in this regard is Sunil Joshi, a former RSS pracharak of Madhya Pradesh. Lt. Col. Purohit had admitted that Joshi had triggered the Ajmer Dargah blast. The RSS has vehemently denied its involvement but that matters little.
Before the emergence of Joshi, the most quoted calumny of the RSS, BJP and VHP, etc. was: “Every Muslim is not a terrorist but every terrorist is a Muslim.” Now would the Saffron be noble enough not to throw stones on the roofs of Muslims? That the Saffron lives in a glasshouse appears to be now too obvious.
The somersault however needs note. Now the latest Saffron line is that terror has no religion and that all terrorist activities and those found to be indulging in them must be dealt with firmly. This came on a day the RSS admitted without naming the 2007 Ajmer blasts that one of those charged in the recent blast had been associated with the Sangh but added that he had been stripped of all the responsibilities. Then the former BJP president Mr. M. Venkaiah Naidu said: “Terrorist is a terrorist, whatever religion he belongs to. This is the stand of the BJP. Do not label him a Muslim or a Hindu.”
The elder brother of the arrested RSS activist, Chandrashekhar Patidar exclaimed: “Why should we be ashamed of our association with the RSS.” As far as we can recall, the RSS icon, Nathu Ram Godse too was not ashamed of himself after pumping bullets in the frail frame of the Father of the Nation.
FREE THE INNOCENT
In this depressing backdrop, we feel the Muslim youth arrested unnecessarily for their alleged involvement in the blasts like those in Malegaon, Hyderabad and Ajmer be freed immediately.
The Home Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram should intervene to see to it that persons of a particular community do not suffer simply because they are persons of a different community.
What has had been happening for the last 10 years is that the educated Muslim youths are arrested on false grounds, which not only tars Muslim image but also destroys households and careers of the Muslim boys. More often than not, the police fail to substantiate their case against the Muslims and they are freed by the judicial authorities. But in the meantime, several Muslim households have been destroyed and many a promising career dilapidated.
WRITING ON THE WALL
Yes! We have a party which organises riots on contract. According to the press reports, in a sting operation by Tehelka, Mr. Pramod Muthalik has been caught accepting money from an undercover reporter who posed as an artist. After handing over Rs. 10,000 to him as a token to the cause of Hindutva, the journalist discusses a proposal that would make him famous like painter Mr M.F. Hussain. The sting operation exposes how Mr. Muthalik and his men are willing to incite a riot for money. The TV footage also shows Mr. Muthalik’s side-kick Mr. Prasad Attavar in Bellari jail meeting the journalist to strike a deal. This organisation charges money for threatening the wealthy persons also. The whole operation creates an impression that any unlawful activity is possible provided appropriate amount of money is paid to the organisers.
And the organiser-in-chief is Mr. Pramod Muthalik, who heads the Sri Ram Sene.
Ms Sonia Gandhi, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr P. Chidambaram! Are you listening and reading this too-bold writing on the national wall?