Form committee to pressure ‘secular political parties’ to work for community development
Form committee to pressure ‘secular political parties’ to work for community development
NEW DELHI: Feeling let down by mainstream parties, Muslim leaders came together in the national capital on Tuesday to weigh their political options not just in the coming elections but also in the long term.
“The time has come to decide which way to go in this country. The community has realised none of the political parties is working for our betterment and we should look for alternatives,” Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the shahi imam of Jama Masjid, said at the all-party meeting.
The leaders stopped short of mooting the formation of a national party for Muslims, given the failure of the Jamaat-e-Islami, but it was clear something along those lines was on their minds.
The gathering of ulemas from across the country instead formed a committee that would pressure “secular political parties” to work for the development of Muslims.
“Muslims are very upset with their ongoing harassment. We know this country cannot ignore our viewpoint. The political leadership cannot overlook us anymore,” Deoband’s Maulana Margubaar Rehman said.
Charging the Centre with following in the footsteps of the BJP and not stopping security agencies from targeting Muslims, Bukhari said the term “Islamic terrorism” was extremely offensive.
“We have been suffering for the past seven years. The trend began during the BJP regime, but the present government has done nothing to change it. I think Islam and Muslims are in danger in this country and we should think how long we will continue to face these atrocities,” he said.
Amidst words of appreciation for the shahi imam and cries of Allah-o-Akbar, the leaders agreed that the present government, especially the home minister, was responsible for the harassment of Muslims.
“The home minister gives the impression that the government believes only Muslims are terrorists,” Arshad Madni of Jamaat-e-Ullema-e-Hind said, adding that the Centre should order a judicial inquiry into the encounter killing of two Muslim boys in the Batla House area of the capital on September 19.
Some leaders suggested all communities join hands to fight evil forces.
“I have nothing to ask Hindi fundamentalists but I have a question for my Hindu brothers, who we know are not represented by these communal forces. If 22 crore Muslims of India do not feel safe, how can they feel safe in this country? We have shared cultures for ages, how can they see their Muslim brothers being harassed like this?” Labi Peerzada of Parcham Party from Aligarh said. Peerzada is also an engineering professor at Aligarh Muslim University.
“I am sure these fundamentalists and political opportunists who are targeting Muslims now will one day train their guns on Hindus,” he said.
v_gyan@dnaindia.net 
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