In the movie Dhoom-II, the ‘protagonist’ in real and ‘villain’ in virtual sense – Hritik Roshan – forewarns the police about the next robbery. Despite the beefed up security, ultra modern precautions and advanced surveillance systems, he nevertheless snatches away the crown of the queen, ancient coins made of precious metals, Jodhpuri sword with high extravagance and much more. These things happen in films – no doubt. But films mirror real life so closely was proved by Indian Mujahideen – the so-called new avatar of SIMI. Minutes before Ahmedabad blasts various news channels and media houses received e-mails to the effect: “Ahmedabad will see death in five minutes from now. Stop it if you can.”
sahilonline.org was lone to shriek the truth while the entire mainstream media was busy paying tribute to Goibles. It said in its February 12, 2008 posting, “The three suspected Muslim youths who were arrested in Honali and Hubli were not involved in any terrorist activities. They neither had intention of any destructive activities nor had any weapon been recovered from them, declared the DGP and IGP.” On February 11 DGP Ajay Kumar Singh reportedly said while addressing a press conference in Bangalore after the malicious reporting by the local and national press. Referring to the news published in the newspapers about the staking of explosives in madrasas of North Karnataka, the DGP said there were no realities in all such news.
This press conference proved two things,
· Media stories regarding threat of terrorism are more often a perceived and reprehensible ploy to increase TRP and circulation.
· Every DGP might not have courage and audacity to call a spade a spade as Mr. Ajay Kumar Singh did; then there would be several thousands cases where media was duly supported by police and vice versa.
The recent blasts in Ahmedabad and Bangalore that shook the nation also testified this already proved maxim. The policemen who do not trust the innocence of ordinary citizens if, for example, they are out on a bike-ride without helmets, do believe in the e-mail that was sent prior to the blasts. The media came out in full support of the theory with cover pages that read IMPOTENT INDIA – India displays a shameful lack of political will to deal with Islamic terrorism despite being its single largest victim (India Today – 11 August) and THE TORMENTOR – Ahmedabad, Surat and Bangalore reflect the mindset of a small section of Indian Muslims who have become radicalised (Outlook – 11 August). And articles that are viciously titled as, We are losing war against jihadis (Indian Express – Tavleen Singh, 3 August) and The truth about Islamofascism (Pioneer – Kanchan Gupta, 3 August) etc. However the Tehelka dared to ask the question, “… but how true these allegations are?” (9 August).
SCAPEGOAT THEORY
It seems that SIMI has become one of the most secure scapegoats for the government and security agencies. ‘Why?’ the troublesome question has been taken up by Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas who, in one of his articles, asserts, “It is clear that the organisation which is not in a position to defend itself; it is very easy to lay accusations on it.” Dr. Haneef Shabab also asks the same question in his article, Why only SIMI? “Do the viewpoints of Sangh Parivar’s ABVP are not based on communal extremism and sectarian feelings? Aren’t the member organisations or outfits of Sangh Parivar involved in massacre and genocides of Muslims and don’t they cross the limits of madness in communal riots in the name of Durga Vahini, Bajrangdal, Hindu Jagran Vedikke, Shri Ram Sena, Hanuman Sena and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. To depict this violence Gujarat and Mumbai speak a lot. If just an independent investigation is conducted then wouldn’t it reveal that the views of SIMI are the counter products of the practical extremism and terrorism of these militant organisations of Sangh Parivar, which has been many a time backed by law enforcing agencies and even the state itself. If it is so then why SIMI alone should be banned?” The answer is simple – the government and security agencies have to show progress in investigations: How many arrested? How many charges filed? How many convicted? – It is statistics that matters. If the real culprits are not available then to disguise their humiliation they lay hand on the already vulnerable sections of the society. But the truth is not only that there is something more egregious.
MEDIA TERROR
The media is performing its ‘task’ dutifully i.e. spreading rumours and misconceptions regarding SIMI in particular and now its new avatar Indian Mujahideen. Muslim educated youth are on the hit list. They are being taken as guilty until proven innocent. Syed Qasim Rasool illuminated this fact with instances more cogently when he wrote, “In various matters the accused terrorists have been acquitted by courts. For example, Abdur Rehman Geelani – an accused for attacking the parliament was acquitted from the lowest to the apex court. Mumbai High Court acquitted all those who were accused of the Ghatkopar bomb blasts under the disreputable MACOCA. Tamil Nadu High Court has exonerated a large number of Coimbatore bomb blast accused. The court has also found SIMI members innocent who were charged with allegations of bombing RSS office. Aftab Ansari of Kolkata was eventually vindicated. Likewise, a significant number of those who were accused of one or another act of terrorism were set free by courts. But after their spending some of the precious years of their lives languishing in jails and bearing the stigma of being terrorists, when they eventually get acquittal from the courts – the same media – which was earlier so loquacious about them and exerted itself completely in proving them dangerous terrorists – preferred a sinful reticence.”
The recent acquittal of Saaqib Nachan in an alleged murder case further proves the author’s point which was mentioned in remote corners of newspapers or was considered a no-news making event as usual.
The fact that a Muslim could be arrested anytime anywhere without having committed a crime, was proved when Madhya Pradesh police arrested a journalist Nadeem Ahmed (of Milli Gazette) as he was trying to make a story on the police’s tirade on the Muslim youth especially former SIMI adherents.
There is not only rhetoric or empty propaganda through fiery headlines or by adding ingredients to the police’s stories. There is also a tacit but convincing ideological campaign, simultaneously pursued on. For example the authors like Praveen Swami, Kanchan Gupta and Tavleen Singh – they view Islam through thick black glasses of prejudice. On one hand they consider the outfits like SIMI as more monstrous than depicted by the popular media and on the other they also tend to believe and propagate that other seemingly innocuous organisations are equal jeopardy for India. Such statements are consequent of a confused mind or to confuse minds.
DOUBLE STANDARDS
In “Hindu terrorists” and call for suicide squads prominent social activist Ram Puniyani has described in great length what I refer to as the threat of Hindutva terrorism. He was talking in the context of Gadkari bomb blasts of June 4, 2008, in which Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) traced the culprits to Hindu Janjagran Samiti (HJS). He refers to the serious cases of blasts in Nanded in April 2006 when two Bajrang Dal activists died while making bombs; the police also recovered from there fake beards and kurta pajama that was surely to further mislead the security agencies. He did not forget to mention that such blasts were earlier conducted in Parbhani, Jalna and Aurangabad in front of mosques. Indolence of security forces in this matter closed the doors of some astonishing revelations.
Passing through a description of pathological state of mind of Bal Thackeray in ordering Hindus for preparing suicide bombers and explode with more intensity, he talks about the double standards that is unfortunately not a monopoly of government, security agencies and media but common people are too suffering from this pathological state of mind due to the constant bombardment of such abominable ideas.
The extent of prejudice is discernible from what Ram Puniyani wants to say, “How popular mind has been doctored into believing something becomes obvious from this act of terror. In a talk show, which took SMS poll at the same time, 97% respondents said that the organisation involved in this blast (HJS) should not be banned. Bajrang Dal despite its involvement in the Nanded case faced no wrath from the authorities. SIMI on the other hand was banned for its alleged involvement in acts of terror. A case of double standards has been ingrained into the society and has been institutionalised over a period of time”.
At last he ended his article on the most pertinent question of the hour, “And finally can we prevent acts of terror by following these double standards?” the answer is of course a resounding NO!
REAL SIMI
Then what the SIMI – the hobgoblin with which I assume mothers must be terrifying their children – really is? Dr. Haneef points out, “SIMI was established for the promotion and cause of Islamic support of the student and to promote the Islamic character and values in the student community. Though, established in 70’s it had some extreme point of views with regard to some issues but their involvement in criminal and antinational activities was never proved,nor their links with terrorist organisations were established with concrete proof by any court of law or any tribunal till today. Just on the basis of its so-called ideological extremism, the government is extending its period of ban every two years”.
In his The SIMI Fictions (Tehelka, 16 August)Ajit Sahi argues, “What is offered as evidence in the judicial forum (against SIMI) is a mockery of the principles of criminal investigations” and “what is most amazing is that till date, police across India have failed to establish a single charge of sedition and terrorism against SIMI.” Are the Editor and columnists of India Today hearing?
Even if we agree for the argument’s sake that SIMI leaders made aggressive speeches, the question is if making aggressive speeches by leaders of any organisation is alone a criteria enough for outlawing any organisation then why more aggressive, violent, offending and blasphemous speakers like Togadia, Modi, Bal-Raj-Uddhav Thackeray etc. are away from jail and RSS, VHP, BJP, Shiv Sena and MNS etc. are continuing to be lawful outfits? After the arrest of Hindutva terrorists in connection with Gadkari blasts, Bal Thackeray lamented: why Hindus (read Hindutva fanatics) are using low intensity bombs; they should use some more lethal ones to destroy mini-Pakistans i.e. Muslim majority localities. He also urged Hindus to imitate LeT, Hizb, HUJI and other terror outfits and fomented them to form suicide bombers. Still he is free and Shiv Sena is lawful or more precisely above the law.
CAUSE OF TERRORISM
Dr. Javed Jamil seems to be unequivocal in this regard in saying, “While terrorism may not be condoned, it must be recognised that it is usually the product of the suppression of certain people” and “justice is the only answer to terrorism”. Hopefully, this not the solitary cry. Thinking people are of the same opinion. Nandita Haksar, Harsh Mander, Ram Puniyani and Arundhati Roy, etc. are genuinely concerned about basic human rights of the so-called ‘terrorists’. The Hindu editorially exhibited the same view on April 1, 2008, “Embittered at being denied social and economic equity and justice by a rising tide of communal prejudice, and angered by a brutal succession of riots, massacres and pogroms that scarred the 1980s and 1990s, thousands of young people saw in Mr. Nagori’s call for jihad the promise of justice.”
Though there could be disagreements on certain issues but the solution which the editorial was talking about is worth considering, “Back in summer of 1976… at a time when the rising influence of communalism in the public arena was becoming evident – Irfan Habeeb, Iqtidar Alam and KP Singh… proposed an eight point programme focussed on ending discrimination in jobs and business, broadening access to education, proscribing hate propaganda and suppressing communal riots.”
The editorial nevertheless lamented in the end, “The political system failed to act on such farsighted advice.” It says further, “The Sachar Committee report offers a quite radical blueprint for the “inclusion and mainstreaming” of India’s 150 million Muslims after addressing the specific “deficits and deprivation” with remarkable honesty. The great pity is that there has been poor, mostly insincere follow-up on the ground”.
WAY OUT
It is high time that such insincere follow-ups must be replaced by active action. The blame game must be stopped. I would like to quote here Mr. Saeed Hameed’s article written in May last in response to Raj Thackeray’s outburst against North Indians. According to Raj, North Indians are responsible for every crime that is happening in Maharashtra and especially Mumbai. Defending this allegation, the renowned journalist concluded, “The north Indians which were often carried away by these false propagandas are now in a better position to understand in the scenario of Raj Thackrey’s blasphemous-comments-regarding-north-Indians, that to associate terrorism with any religion, belief or region is how erroneous. A criminal is a criminal, he is not Hindu or Muslim, he is not bhayya or Bihari or north Indian. Likewise every terrorist must also be taken as terrorist, he must never be mistaken as Muslim terrorist. To accuse a terrorist as jihadi terrorist or Islamic terrorist is as wrong as to say that north Indians are responsible for all the criminal activities of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Need of the hour is to make the north Indians like Rajnath Singh, Vinay Katiyar and Kalyan Singh read the writing on the wall”.
Some of the practical steps that should be taken in this regard are as follows,
It is said that statuette la justice is blind not because it cannot see things but because it can perceive things without any existing bias. The government must observe this spirit of justice in its decisions. The same should be the yardstick of law for everybody. It is not appreciable to devour camels while chaffing mosquitoes. Investigations of terror attacks must be impartial. Investigations must also be conducted without the name of any group or organisation in mind from the very outset. It must also be understood that it is not necessary to come out with the name of culprits and organisations behind them within 60 seconds of the terror strike. All things get disturbed and deviated by this unnecessary hastiness. Cops like Hemant Karkare must be appreciated and popularised and not people like Vanzaras and Daya Nayak. Media must be analytical instead of credulous and obsequious of police and security agencies. There is indeed freedom of speech and expression but when it collides with peace and security of the nation it could be sacrificed. It means that just after the blasts that shook the nation, articles and cover stories condemning jihadis and thereby Muslims for these attacks (without any convincing proof) are creating rifts between communities. Media persons must note that they are ambassadors of unity and not of division. Media must also avoid prejudice and pronouncing judgement on an accused before the court has an opportunity to do so. On the top of that the reticence over that same person’s acquittal is criminal. The people who are harassed on the basis of concocted charges stand in need of help and assistance. Forums and NGOs must be formed in order to provide legal assistance for them. POTA and such black laws must never be appreciated because they are useless in preventing terrorism.
These steps are indispensable if terrorism has to be exterminated root and branch from the largest democracy of the world.