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The Central Working Committee of the
All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat (AIMMM), the umbrella body of
Indian Muslim organizations recently met and reviewed the
situation in the country. It has come out with its observations
that are significant from Muslims point of view and need to be
highlighted to feel the pulse of the community.
The AIMMM holds the view that both central and state governments
are directly responsible for targeting innocent Muslim youth for
tackling the menace of terrorism. The modus-oprendi is to first
implicate some Muslim youth on fabricated terror charges and then
detain them. Such detainees are forced to make false confessions
through third degree methods. This pattern has emerged out in the
acquittal of several Muslim youth who have spend long years in
jails as under trial.
The AIMMM cites example of the Nimesh Commission that probed into
the arrest of Muslim youth in UP. The committee appointed by
former Chief Minister Mayawati indicted the state government for
making arrests on fabricated charges. The AIMMM demands that the
UP government to release all such Muslim youth languishing in UP
jails and appeals to other governments to follow suit.
The AIMMM demands that the governments responsible for such false
arrest should pay adequate compensation to the acquitted "terror"
victims. Their lost years, destroyed careers and defamation should
be taken into account deciding the compensation. The AIMMM also
demands that officers’ falsely implicating Muslim youth should be
punished and summarily dismissed from service and all its benefits
forfeited.
AIMMM also demands the repealing of the terrorist law POTA. AIMMM
opposes new amendments to POTA that has extended the duration of a
banned organization from two to five years. AIMMM also objects to
another amendment that treats economic offences as "terrorism."
AIMMM believes that the existing laws in the country are enough to
deal with the scourge of terrorism.
The Sachar commission report on Muslim backwardness had prompted
the government to announce a slew of schemes to up lift the
community. These schemes are meant to be implemented in the
so-called Muslim-dominated districts but so far only few schemes
are executed. Even the educational scholarships scheme is not
properly implemented. Sixty percent of budget of this scheme was
returned unutilized last year. The AIMMM demands that the
government should honor its commitment towards minority welfare
schemes.
The AIMMM likes to remind the Union government for the
implementation of the Mishra Commission report that has
recommended reservation for the Muslims. It also wants to know why
the government has not yet given its reply to the Supreme Court on
including the Muslim and Christian Dalits in the SC/ST
reservation list. The AIMMM feels that the exclusion of Muslim and
Christian Dalits from the SC/ST quota is a fraud on the
Constitution of India.
The AIMMM takes serious note of the dangerous trend of the
construction of illegal Hindu religious structure near Muslim
shrine, Masjid, Qabristan, or monuments.
The modus oprendi is to place an idol, a picture, or a piece of
stone near a Muslim structure. This is followed by Hindu rituals
and puja and then the place is declared as a Hindu place of
worship.
The AIMMM appeals to the Union government to wake up to such
realities and handle them with the firmness it deserves. It is of
the view that such development is taking place through out the
country and if allowed to flourish may tar the secular credentials
of India.
The AIMMM cites the recent attempt to build a full-fledged Hindu
temple on the north-eastern corner of Charminar in Hyderabad. It
all began with a corner milestone being placed by the municipality
to save the monument from traffic damages. Some Hindu zealots
painted vermillion marks on this milestone, then placed a small
idol near it and quietly built a platform. Finally the structure
was declared as "Bhagyalakshmi temple.”
In Karnataka, the shrine of “Baba Budhan,” is another example.
Here adjacent to the Muslim shrine, a Hindu worship spot was
created and was expanded, slowly the entire site was taken over.
Even in Delhi there are many cases of Hindu shrines being built
next to the walls of Masjids or Muslim monuments. Such practice is
common even near the protected monuments under the control of the
Archaeological Survey of India. Even though the laws do not permit
any construction within 100 meters of such protected monuments,
today temples occupy the outer walls of Purana Quila and Qutb
Minar, a Sikh temple exists next to the Puran Qila.
The AIMMM appeals to the Union Government to look into all such
cases and deal them according to the law of the land. It also
appeals to the secular NGO’s to keep an eye on such developments
and file a complaint with the authorities to take necessary
action. It also appeals to the press to report such development in
an unbiased manner.
Saffron Goons growing Intimidation
AIMMM takes note of the growing trend of saffron goons’
intimidation against certain section of the Muslim community
traditionally engaged in the meat trade. Opening of new abattoirs
and meat shops are resisted, old ones are closed down, and trucks
transporting cattle are being hijacked. AIMMM looks at the
creation of such hurdles an economic assault on a section of the
community. It calls upon the state governments to punish the
saffron goons, communal elements in the government that includes
police.
Further, the AIMMM opposes the new cow protection bill passed by
the BJP led government in Karnataka. The bill enlarges the
definition of "cow" and enhances punishments for those in meat
trade. The bill is clearly against all those whose source of
income is cattle other than cows. AIMMM appeals to Government of
India to reject this bill out rightly.
Building Peace in J&K
AIMMM feels that stage managed peace in Jammu and Kashmir is based
on oppression. Thousands of youths are in jails on frivolous
charges. Every now and then undeclared curfew is clamped in
various areas of the state. Friday prayers on various occasions
were not allowed in the Jama Masjid Srinagar. Muharram processions
were also not allowed in the capital city. AFSPA remains in force,
more than 150 persons are in jails under the draconian Public
Safety Act, and 840 political prisoners remain incarcerated. AIMMM
feels that the current stage managed peace is no solution to the
vexed problem and urges the Union government to start the dialogue
process with the separatist for establishing permanent peace.
Amarnath Trust
AIMMM shares the anxieties of the Kashmiri brothers over the
increasing activities and infrastructure development by the
Amarnath Trust in J&K. Such activity to cater to the ever-growing
number of pilgrims to Amarnath, from a few thousand in pre-1990
days to around 6.5 lakh yatris this year, is having disastrous
impact on the area's fragile ecology. AIMM urges the state
government not to allot any land to Amarnath Trust. It should also
stop construction of any permanent infrastructure en route to the
shrine. Further it should limit the visitors only to the
ecologically permissible limit. The AIMMM also feels that Kashmiri
Pandits should be appointed in the Amarnath trust.
Waqf Bill
The AIMMM urges the government to hurry with the Waqf bill through
the Parliament. It has to take into account the suggestions made
by the Muslim organizations. One of the suggestions was to have
the Waqf bill on the lines of Gurdwara Act of 1925. It will lead
to the creation of a Waqf Committee that would manage the Waqf
properties in the country. The committee can manage various
educational institutions, hospitals and charitable organizations
from the revenue earned from the Waqf properties. Its no secret
that there is huge amount of Waqf properties scattered across the
country that are in utter neglect, encroached upon and illegally
being sold. AIMMM feels that many of the Muslim problems could be
solved if Waqf properties are put into good use.
Babri Masjid
The unjust demolition of the Babri Masjid, has created a long list
of litigation and the current appeals are pending with the Supreme
Court. AIMMM reiterates that the judgment of the Apex court will
only be acceptable to the Muslim community. It rejects any such
efforts to resolve the Babri Masjid through out of court
settlement.
The views of the Muslim community as expressed by AIMMM are worthy
of consideration. Their exclusive narrative vouches for an
inclusive growth. This is the silver lining in the wonder that is
India.
Syed Ali
Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at
syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com
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