We served the British, now serving the Congress: Farooq Mapkar

Farooq Mapkar was shot by the Mumbai police while offering namaz in Hari Masjid, Wadala, on January 10, 1993.

“Even today, the policeman who shot me and killed six others, is roaming freely. No action was taken against the guilty,” he says.

Mapkar was later charged for rioting and 15 years later, was acquitted by the sessions court.
“The judges and the central government have stood behind these murderers, while innocent people were charged and made to endure years of subjugation,” he says.

“All I wanted was my rights and I didn’t get them. I did not get justice. Where is justice in this country? We are all slaves. Before Independence, we served the British, now we serve the Congress.”

He adds that he cannot trust the police, the political class, the judiciary or the state.
“The oppression is still the same. There’s impunity and no accountability. I feel sad,” Mapkar says.

He laments that all those who participated in the riots didn’t get punished, but Muslims who were involved in the blasts were convicted.

“The government is responsible for this divide and rule policy, so that they can consolidate their vote bank. In my case, the CBI gave a clean chit to the police despite what the Srikrishna report stated. The central government has saved an officer. Clearly, there’s a fault within the system as it has consistently failed to deliver justice. I do not trust the system any more. Corruption is widening the gaping disparity between the rich and the poor. At the end of the day, it is our country that is suffering.”