Article published by ‘Crescent
Times’ Monthly, Dec. 1989
Born and brough up at the famous
town of Baj Bahadur in Kahsmir, Mufti Mohammed syed, the new minister for home affairs of India is one who
acts according to his words due to some
under currents In the Congress party
mufti had to bid farewell to the party and through Jana Morcha reached Jantha
dal. He is the first Muslim to become
the Home Minister of India. During the past four decades , Muslim community has
contributed two eminent men to become the President of India but no prime
minister has ever wanted a member of this largest minority community to be the
Home minister. There was only one person from Muslim community history of
independent India who can claim to have
some scanty connection with the post of Home
minister that is Mr. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai. During the days of Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru he was entrusted with the work of
solving the problems that arose in the internal
administration of Kasmhir. It is to be
remembered that the congress regime in Haryana the home minister as well as the
IG of police were Muslims. It has also to be remembered the Muslims had been
Chief minister in Bihar which has become cradle of brutality and in Assam
notorious for the Muslim mass murders in ‘Nelli’. Even when the Muslims where
chief minister, Muslim continued to be harassed and subjected to atrocities.
There will be no change in the treatment meted out to the large number of
people including Muslims just because a
Muslim is occupying an eminent post in the cabinet.
Though it cannot be stated that
Mr. Mohammed Kareem Chagla and Noorul Hassan where given the portfolios of education in central cabinet
just to remove the Muslim character of Alighar Muslim University the fact
remains that it was during their regimes
such a drastic change was made. Dr. Zakir Hussain while holding the post of
Vice Chancellor of Jamia Milla Islamiya University was chancellor in the cause
of Urdu but when we became president of the country he had not moved his little
finger to improve the position of Urdu among the languages . Though there we
Muslims in the cabinet of Rajiv Gandhi not one of them had be bold enough to write a dissenting note with regard to
Jamia Bill or Wakhaf Bill or religious institution bill or the legislation regarding foreigners in
Assam adversely. We have before us the picture of the treatment meted out to
the Sikh community by Rajive Government which claimed to be savior of this
community by installing Giani Zail Singh as president and Bhuta sing belonging
t ‘Nirankari’ sect of Sikh community as home minister. The fact that Mufti is occupying
the chair from which Bhuta Singh as to make an inglorious exit has doubled the
anxiety of the Muslims. Let us hope and pray that Mufti through his action will
prove our anxiety is baseless.
The statement of Mufti that he
will convene an all party conference to solve
amicably the problem of Babari –Masjid-Ram- Janma Bhoomi has given rise
too much expectations among Muslims. The Muslims have to get back numerous Masjids
and Wakhaf properties in Bengal and North India. These properties are now in
adverse possession. It is yet to be seen whether Mufti will able to exert
pressure on the government to take effective step to restore the rights and
privileges enjoyed by the Muslims on 15th
August 1947 while they were in the
opposition. Janatha Dal had demanded proportional representation to Muslims in
force and also form anti-riot forces to suppress communal riots. Considering the manner in which PAC has
functioned as the unformed section of the Hindu rioters the suggestion is to be
welcomed .
North India is gripped by the communal
riots that break out is many parts. Anybody will be stunned to read the reports
regarding riots in Jamshedpur, Rourkala, Ranch i, Hazaribagh, kota, Sitamarhi
and bhagalpur. At any moment communal riots can again break out in these
places. As a precautionary measure PAC (Provisory Armed Constabulary) and BMP (Bihar Military Police) are standing vigil
over the places where riots can breakout. But in the event of riot, we know pretty well how they will
behave the incident that occurred in the Kasmhir Valley which happened we do birth land of Mufti is
causing fear and anxiety among the people. Many are posing the question whether
the Himalayan Valley slowly transforming it in to Panjab. The situation in the
city of Bombay and Pune much different. An atmosphere of enmity and mutual
distrust prevails here also. Communal forces like Vishwa hindu Parishath, RSS,
Bhajrangdal & Shivasena are spreading communal hatred all over the cities
of Bombay & Pune. The situation has become more grave as some of the
priests are leading these groups bent upon creating communal violence. It is
really painful to not that disciples of Sankaracharya who spread the message of
“advaita” in the country is encouraging and abetting the communalists. The
assemblies of Hindu priests are taking decisions devoid of discretion and
common sense. These were the person who
had announced that they will demolish Babari-Majid and construct Sree Rama
temple.
The communal and fascist elements want to
pursue the ways of confrontation and bloodshed rather than way of peace and
co-existence. The fact is that is Muslims that fall victims in the violence
that break out in the name of religion and community.
The appointment of a person from Muslim
Community as Home Minister when the country is facing many crucial problems is
significant. The problems that emanate from Kashmir, Punjab and problems
relating to Bodo and Babari Masjid are real challenges to Mufti.
Mr. V. P. Singh has created history by
appointing Mufti Mohammed as Home Minister. He has given go by too many his
colleagues who were aspiring for this post. The appointment of Mufti is
interpreted as a step taken to restore confidence among the Muslim population
who fells dejected and depressed by the communal riots and laying the
foundation for temple near Babri Masjid at Ayodhya. Whatever be it, it reliably
learned that there is one person in the cabinet who opposed the appointment of Mufti as Home Minister.
Arun Nehru seems to be the Minister who opposed this appointment. He was keen
on getting this post and he had even threatened to reject the Minister ship if
he is not offered the Home portfolio. It seems V.P Singh by appointing Mufti
had tried to make it clear to the B.J.P which supported his Government that he is
not prepared to act according to its wish. He is might have thought that he can
secure Muslim votes in Assembly elections scheduled to be held in Bihar,
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
There is no simple treatment for the fatal
disease our country in suffering from. The communal disease has spread to parts
o f the country. The main cause for this disease is the unsalable policies of
the Government in the political, social , religious and economic fields. The
main problem facing the new minister is how he will be able to treat this diseases. May Allah
give him strength and goodwill to face this problem courageously and
successfully.
ANTI MUSLIM RIOTS MARCH – OCTOBER 1989
24 March Makrana (Rajasthan)
Mid April Hazaribag (Bihar)
Mid April Madhura (Uttar
Pradesh)
Mid April Burhanpur (Madhya
Pradesh)
1 June Jaunpur (Uttar
Pradesh)
13 August Dharbanga (Bihar)
28 September Kotta (Rajasthan)
29 September
Mhow (Madhya
Pradesh)
30 September
Khargone (Madhya
Pradesh)
Mid October
Palanpur (Gujarat)
Mid October
Balgarh (Madhya Pradesh)
Mid October
Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh)
Mid October
Nagrah (Madhya Pradesh)
14 October
Khambat (Gujarat)
14 October
Indore (Madhya
Pradesh)
16 October Jaipur (Rajasthan)
16 October Jharya (Bihar)
