Dear Muslim Brothers,
I first thought of writing an open appeal to our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. But then I realized that it would be worse than banging my head against a granite wall. I also thought of making an emotional appeal to the President of the Congress Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi. But then, people far more powerful, important and experienced than me have tried doing that.
When I read about the riots in Assam, I was slightly perplexed. Why now? And then I was bewildered when riots broke out in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, a town that was spared communal violence and divide even at the peak of the Babri Masjid crisis. I was shocked when I saw visuals of a mob rampaging in Mumbai, desecrating and destroying even the Amar Jawan Jyoti. I was boiling with anger and helplessness by the time I read about how bona fide Indian citizens belonging to the Northeast felt so threatened that they were fleeing cities like Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. And I felt really bad when I saw pictures of a mob trying to destroy a statue of Buddha in Lucknow.
These are truly dangerous times for India, perhaps even more dangerous than the 1980s when the Shah Bano and the Babri Masjid controversies eventually resulted in insane communal violence across the country. India had been spared the madness of communal riots since 2002. Suddenly, they loom again over India like a malevolent cloud. Predictably, the demoralized, dispirited and disgraced UPA government led by Manmohan Singh has sought to evade taking responsibility for this mess by blaming Pakistan for the mess. Apparently, morphed and false visuals of Muslims being allegedly persecuted and killed in Assam and Myanmar originated in Pakistan and were deliberately spread across India through social networking websites and text messages. That may be true.
But my question is: is that justification for molesting lady constables, desecrating the Amar Jawan Jyoti, randomly attacking people from the north east and threatening them and also destroying a Buddha statue? This is where my blunt question to my Muslims brothers, who are also fellow Indians must be asked: why are you getting so worked up over the persecution of Muslims in Myanmar? Why are you not holding rallies and organising protests against the daily massacre of Muslims in countries like Syria? Why are you not protesting against the senseless manner in which Shias are being butchered in Pakistan? Even more important: is there any dearth of real problems that Muslims face in India, while they remain one of the most economically marginalized sections of the society?
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But my question is: is that justification for molesting lady constables, desecrating the Amar Jawan Jyoti, randomly attacking people from the north east and threatening them and also destroying a Buddha statue? This is where my blunt question to my Muslims brothers, who are also fellow Indians must be asked: why are you getting so worked up over the persecution of Muslims in Myanmar? Why are you not holding rallies and organising protests against the daily massacre of Muslims in countries like Syria? Why are you not protesting against the senseless manner in which Shias are being butchered in Pakistan? Even more important: is there any dearth of real problems that Muslims face in India, while they remain one of the most economically marginalized sections of the society?
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Comments
I read ur article, I'm very worried about your written "Senseless" activity of Muslims. I want to one thing explain about you, Muslim - Muslim relation is big, They are brothers, If any one afftected ot attacked any part of the world, A Muslim should support him at any cost he will give. I agree you, A Muslim can't destroy public property, even can't attack any assam non-muslim brother in any part of the state. Islam taught that mush beautiful discipline. A Muslim is not fear God, He must answer to God, After Death.
Muslims want to expressed their condemn to the riots in the democratic way. Some culprits who are intruded in the mass might have caused the damage of public property. Damaging public property or killing any brother is not acceptable. But please understand our feelings as a fellow brother of our Assam brothers. Even we worried about all muslims in the world. But we can control riots which is happening in our country by making protest in a peaceful, democratic way. That's what we are doing right now.
When you talk about muslims destroying Buddhas statue and other things, I want to remind you that muslims sacred places are targeted similar way every day in India, as you only know about the Babari Masjid. And more over the violence during Mumbai's agitation for Assam riots, do you think it is more than the genocide of Muslims of Assam and thousands of Muslims being made homeless in Assam?? When you condemn it please also note the facts.. do you still expect the Muslims not to react normal for what happened to Muslims in the Assam???
And you spoke about the message sent to NE Indians and being targeted for Assam riots.. Do you still believe it was sent by Muslims what is the proof you have for it?? And for instance we think it was done by a Muslim then tell me how many NE killed for this? None right? And you may know that, by spreading this hated there were 9 Muslims thrown out of Blore-Guhati train out of which 5 were dead...I am asking you to correct your message and convey the right facts, if you are real passionate about India.
--Syed Kaleemuddin