Describing the terror attacks in Mumbai as deplorable, a prominent Muslim body leader has said terrorists are using religion to justify their action
NEW DELHI: Describing the terror attacks in Mumbai as deplorable, a prominent Muslim body leader has said terrorists are using religion to justify their action with fundamentalist and extremist thoughts.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind leader Mehmood Madni while stating that the government should see as to where it has failed in its intelligence, and thoroughly probe the reason behind the attacks, said terrorists are motivated by fundamentalist thoughts instilled in them by misinterpreting religion.
"It is for the government to find out who planned these attacks and what was the reason behind them, but I would like to say terrorists use religion as a tool to justify their actions. They are motivated to commit such acts as fundamentalist and extremist thoughts which are instilled in them by misinterpreting religion," Madni said here.
"I want to put this in absolutely clear terms that Islam does not preach violence. In fact, the so called 'Jehad' that terror groups talk about, is not what they think it is. Real 'Jehad' in fact means fighting the perpetrators of terror," the cleric said.
Madni, however, refused to comment on the recent arrests of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Lt-Col Shrikant Purohit by Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorist Squad for their alleged involvement in the Malegaon bomb blasts, and BJP's subsequent attack on the UPA government for reportedly trying to establish the existence of Hindu terrorism.
"I'd not like to comment on all this. There is already too much tension in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks. Terrorism has many aspects, these can be discussed at an appropriate time," the former general secretary of Jamiat said.
The terrorists involved in the Mumbai terror attacks, which started on Wednesday evening, are suspected to be cadres of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Madni added that Jamiat is planning to organise a conference to discuss various aspects of terrorism and ways to stop it in Mumbai next month. "We have not decided upon the date but will definitely hold the conference in Mumbai next month," Madni said.
Earlier this month on November 9 during its 29th general session held in Hyderabad, Jamiat had given a call to oppose all sorts of terrorist activities in the country.
Along with other Muslim bodies, it had also issued a 'Fatwa' against terrorism in May this year at a rally held here, which was attended by more than three lakh Muslims.
On Shiv Sena describing the Mumbai terror attack as an "Islamic terror attack", the cleric said "by reacting to such a cheap observation, we don't want to give undue importance to a small fry like Shiv Sena".
The Shiv Sena had alleged that the "pre-occupation" of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) into the Malegaon blasts investigation had laxed vigilance on other fronts leading to what it called "Islamic terror attack" in Mumbai.
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