The column “Muslims at the Congress’ altar of opportunism” (Feb. 16) by Aijaz Zaka Syed helped establish a standpoint and highlighted the minute difference in terms of methodologies between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both of these parties are equally responsible for destroying the treasures of this great country and proven themselves time and again as the true successors of British colonial method of “divide and rule.”

And now what is bewildering and a cause for serious concern is the way the higher judiciary is dispensing the so-called justice. The Allahabad High Court pronounced a verdict on Sept 30, 2010, dividing 2.77 acres of land between Muslims and Hindus of what was historic Babri Masjid, destroyed by Hindu fanatics, not on the ground of historical evidence but merely on the basis of tenets of faith. Now the Supreme Court seems to have been impressed by the Allahabad court’s judgment that preferred subjectivity to objective facts.

Therefore, while pronouncing verdict on Afzal Guru, the apex court justified the execution on the grounds that “…the entire nation and the collective conscience of the society will only be satisfied if capital punishment is awarded to the offender.” How can public opinion influence the judgments of top courts in the country?

So, it’s not only the political parties but the top judiciary of the country has also failed the Muslim community. The author rightly observed that Muslims continue to be a punching bag in independent India.

These political parties and their allies should not be given another chance in the forthcoming elections. Instead Indians should take a radical decision in the best interest of countrymen and protect this beautiful country by giving a chance to a party that believes in value-based politics. — Saif Ul Islam Farooqui, Riyadh