NEW DELHI: Questioning double standard being exercised by Indian authorities in tackling terrorism, with only minorities being targeted, an all-party meeting of Muslim leaders, clerics and heads of Muslim organization was held yesterday at Jama Masjid complex.
Amid the backdrop of “bomb blasts, terrorist activities, indiscriminate arrests of Muslim youth and fury of religious hatred in different parts of the country,” Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari, said these incidents have raised a “question mark on future of India.”
Referring to the manner in which Islam was being “linked” with terrorism, “not only in India, but in several parts of the world,” Bukhari asked why was such anti-Muslim campaign being indulged in.
“The government should proclaim the definition of terrorism,” Bukhari said. “Is fake encounter not terrorism? Is it not an act of terrorism to burn alive Muslims in Gujarat,” he asked. “Is it not the act of terrorism to burn villages, mosques and churches in different parts of the country? And if it is the act of terrorism, then what is the meaning of alertness of the government and its security agencies only on bomb blasts whereas it overlooks other incidents of terrorism?” Bukhari questioned.
It is the “constitutional duty” of central and state governments “to provide protection to their citizens and if they fail to fulfill their constitutional responsibility, then they have no right to remain in power,” Bukhari thundered.
Bukhari and other Muslim leaders also questioned the silence maintained by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on only Muslims being picked up as suspect terrorists, as if his (PM’s) lips were “sealed.”
During his address, Maulana Mahmoud Ahmed Khan Daryabadi, general secretary, All India Ulema Council (Mumbai) called for a “movement against atrocities Muslims are suffering from.” Highlighting the role played by Indian Muslims in country’s freedom struggle, Saleem Ahmed Peerzada, president Parcham Party of India (Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh) said that it was a strange irony that Muslims feels “hopeless today” in this country.
Categorically laying out that secular Indians, including Hindus have joined Muslims in questioning the latter being subject to discrimination, Ahmed said: “If Muslims don’t feel secure here, how can the Hindus be secure?” Drawing attention to Praveen Togadia (VHP)’s comments that Indian Muslims had only two options, either the graveyard or Pakistan, Ahmed thundered: “India is not the property of the saffron brigade.”
Meanwhile, groups representing India’s religious minorities and activists held a protest rally here yesterday demanding stronger action against perpetrators of communal violence, with several parts of the country seeing sectarian strife in the past two months.
