Mumbai: The Muslim community leaders and experts Friday strongly condemned and rejected th report published in The Guardian that if BJP gets the majority and form the new government moderate Muslims in India will be encouraged to join extremist groups and a victory for Narendra Modi could lead to increased recruitment to extremist Islamic organisations in the region.
[Indian Muslims have always been at the forefront in the war against terrorism (File Photo)]
"This is a mere assumption and has no basis. Indian Muslims have faced thousands of riots in the last more than sixty years. They have been subjected to worst kind of discrimination and torture. But, propaganda apart, history is testimony to the fact that Indian Muslims never retaliated with negative and destructive manner", Shahid Lateef, Chief Editor of Inquilab, a leading national Urdu daily, said while talking to ummid.com.
"Despite all odds and after every tragedy, the Muslims have shown their faith in the Indian constitution and judiciary. If at all Narendra Modi becomes prime minister and anything wrong really happens to Muslims, they will once again follow the same path. But, will never indulge in anti-national activities or attract towards extremism", he added.
He also dismissed the perception that only Indian Muslims are opposed to Modi becoming prime minister. He said that the vast majority in India is still secular, and they too are determined that BJP should be defeated in the election and Modi should not hold the top post.
"This is not out of any fear. Other Indians like Muslims too believe that BJP and Modi are not fit to rule the country. They believe that BJP government will not do any good to they country. Instead, it will destroy the secular fabrics of the country where people have learnt to live together", he added.
Mehmood Daryabadi of Mumbai's Ulema Council too rejected the reports that a Modi led government at the centre will in any way encourage the Indian Muslims towards extremism.
"Modi is ruling in Gujarat since 2002. Since then the Muslims in Gujarat have been subjected to all kind of violence, prejudice and injustice. They were even denied their basic rights. Have the Gujarati Muslims retorted with violence? Have they taken arms or have joined extremist groups?" he asked.
He said that such reports are deliberate attempts to further communalise the already charged situation.
"The Congress, BJP and other political parties are all responsible for communalising the ongoing election. They did it deliberately so that other issues are not discussed. But, people have failed the political parties. The result will show how sensibly the Indians have voted", he added.
Dr Zafarul Islam Khan, editor of fortnightly, The Milli Gazette, was outright in rejecting any report that suggested Muslims will or are siding with extremism. He said that Muslims were never involved in terrorism or militancy and will never do that.
"The reports that Muslims have been involved in any kind of violence or terrorism are either fabricated or have the involvement of few Muslims who were informers working for police and intelligence agencies. The police and agencies use them to malign the image of the Muslims and to portray them as monster so that injustice meted to them does not get the needed attention", he added.
He also said that Modi has learnt enough lessons from Gujarat 2002 riots, and if at all he becomes prime minister, he will never dare to repeat such thing.
"He might go ahead with 'silent victimization' as he is doing in Gujarat right now. But, he will not dare do any harm to Muslims or to any one else openly", he said.
While rejecting The Guardian report, noted journalist and convener of Citizens for Peace and Development (CDP) termed it as part of a policy.
"Such reports are part of a policy. They get space in the media so that they can be used in future as ground to tag Muslims", he said.
He also said that the purpose of such reports is to keep Muslims continuously under pressure.
"During election time they employ 'politics of fear' and ask Muslims to vote against communal forces. Once they come in power, they deliberately create an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion around Muslims. The motive is to keep them under pressure so that they don't dare to demand their rights as defined in the constitution", he said.
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