Brahminism’s much-published Sarva dharma Sahishnu the and Sarva dharma Sama bhava showed its ugly face to the entire world on Dec. 6 1992. No wonder, this day will go down in the of Indian history as one of the tragic days and henceforth Dec. 6 will bring painful memories to Indian Muslim masses.
Eight years ago, the Sikh community had suffered the same pain and now itis Muslim community’s turn. What is “Operation Blue Star” to Sikhs so is Babri Masjid demolition to Muslims.
Since 1947, the Muslim masses have become the prime target of the Brahminical ‘onslaught’. Political parties, bureaucracy, press and police have joined their hand in crushing the poor and defenseless Muslims. Many press reports and commissions of inquiry have highlighted this. Not only politicians, police and press even upper caste neighbors have treacherously backstabbed the gullible Muslims.
What EPW says: To corroborate my view I will quote the Economic and Political Weekly, which is the most trustworthy journal of India. The correspondent reports in the issue of July 6, 1985 under the subtitle, “Police attack on Muslims” in the following way.
However, it was on the same day that all hell was let loose in a labor area, Bapu Nagar. itis a vast sprawling labor colony divided into several Paris known as Indira Gharib Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, 16 blocks, etc., and is surrounded by the multistoried buildings of affluent Patels known as Anand flats (behind Indira Garib Nagar), Mangal flats (behind Sanjay Nagar) and Bhaiyya’s on the one side and of some Maharashtrians on the other, the inhabitants of Indira Garib Nagar and Sanjay nagaras well as of 16 Blocks are mostly non-Gujarati Muslims from AP, UP, MP, etc., and are employed in nearby industries or do odd jobs.
Pro – Hindu Police: The area had been under curfew for quite some time though there was no visible communal tension, according to many inhabitants. However, curfew was lifted in the area on April 21 and three Muslim constables were sent away from the area. This action speaks volumes about the role of the police authorities and their real intentions. There is no doubt that the police officers played an openly partisan role in the whole episode of Bapu Nagar.
Though there was no visible tension in the area, the Muslims were feeling insecure. They approached the inmates of Anand flats who assured them that they need not fear and they together formed a peace committee on April 21. The Patel seven offered to protect Muslims in the event of any trouble. The trouble began at 3 p.m. on April 22 when some small shops belonging to Muslims were set on fire near bus stop number 137, a holy shrine known as Malik Shaban Ki Dargah, an old and sturdy structure, was extensively damaged and nearby mosque too was ransacked. The Muslims in Sanjay Nagar and Indira Garib Nagar were panicky, but they could do little except contact the police which kept reassuring them. By 6.p.m. a well-armed mob collected near Sanjay Nagar and, according to many eye-witnesses, many of these armed people came in police jeeps. The Muslims collected to resist but were outnumbered and had to run for their lives.
Police stone Muslims: Soon the panic spread among the Muslims of Indira Gharib Nagar as well. When they contacted the police, they were also told that there was nothing to worry about. Aisha Begum, former Education Minister, also came to know of the of the disturbances in Bapu Nagar and contacted the police. On hearing to the same thing, she contacted Amassing Chowdhary, the Home Minister, but got the same reply. Thus, neither the police nor the Home Minister cared to take effective steps to avert the disaster which was to follow.
At 4 a.m. on April 23, according to Munawar Khan, a resident of Gharib Nagar, stoning started from Anand flats. The Muslims were totally surprised as the residents of Anand flats had assured the Muslims that nothing would happen to them and a peace committee had also been formed. Muslims now realized the gravity of the problem and again contacted the police but were told not to worry. They retaliated to some extent but could not do much. Soon a police and SRP force gathered in a maidan opposite the Gharib agar tenements and began to fire at the Muslims. According to eye-witnesses, police officers even supplied petrol from their jeep and motor cycles to the miscreants to set fire to Muslim houses and shops in the area
20 killed in firing: A number of police officers have been identified and even the Chief Minister and the Home Minister, when I asked them, could not deny the role of these police officials. The Chief Minister said that he had transferred one of the officers as a punishment-what a punishment for the havoc caused – but on inquiry it turned out that it was another officer who had been transferred. As a result of the police-firing about 20 Muslims were killed and 93 were injured either in the police firing or in assaults by goondas. Among those killed were a woman and a doctor. The police’s role was most condemnable. Instead of protecting innocent lives against a mob bent upon mayhem, the police turned themselves into an integral part of the murderous mob and fired to kill people fleeing out of fear. Even children were not spared.
No more any hope: The above quoted incident took place in Ahmedabad in 1985. Did the Police and administrative machinery behave in a different manner at least in 1992 as .an atonement for their past sins? I will leave this to you to decide. I would not have believed the authenticity of the above report if it had been published in any other journal. Since it is reported in EPW nobody can brush this report aside by saying it is an exaggeration or a piece of yellow press.
Babri Masjid demolition was not just a demolition of “disputed structure” as our so-called moderate BJP leader Vajpayee said instead it was a demolition of Muslim hope, demolition of Muslim interests, and demolition of Muslim security in India. Babri masjid was not just a structure of brick and mortar, but it was a symbol of Muslim condition in India. With the collapse of Babri Masjid even a little ray of hope has vanished. Solution: So, what is the solution? When the so-called law order machinery nakedly exhibits its communal facade and indulges in the merciless carnage of helpless Muslim masses, what is the solution? When the so-called national press incites the communal passions of the non-Muslim community through subtle news coverage, what is the solution? When the so-called secular minded pro-minority Congress Party ruled States witnessed daylight massacre of Muslims, what is the solution?
Laloo’s leadership: According to me the only and the only one, that too a permanent, solution to this problem is SEPARATE SETTLEMENT for Muslims. Muslims should move away from Hindu-infested locality to Muslim-dominated locality so that they can effectively defend themselves without depending on the highly communalized state administrative machinery. Fortunately, Muslims of Bihar had a great stateman and able administrator in Laclos Prasad Yadav who has become a savior of Muslims in that communally sensitive state. No more co-existence: Muslims of other States can’t simply sit and wait for the Laloo Prasad Yadavas to emerge in their own States and save them from Hindu Nazi onslaught. The only thing they can do now isotope to safer places so that we can live and die with dignity. We have meticulously studied the “Hindu mind” for the past 45 years. We are fully convinced that we cannot co-exist with them. The only way left for us is
SEPARATE SETTLEMENT.
Babasaheb Suggestions: This is what Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar proposed for Dalits in 1930. Since Dalits are a highly disorganized community and suffering from severe identity crisis. This could not materialize. Moreover, after the conversion of Babasaheb to this date Dalits did not get an effective honest, brilliant and charismatic leader. But the Muslim case is different. Since they are highly organized and emotionally close to one another they can easily move to safer places.
Crush leadership: Certainly, they too lack sincere and honest leadership. The present Muslim leadership should be mercilessly cursed. Because all these years they have sold Muslim interests to the upper castes for the sake of power and money. Muslim community need not shed tears on hearing the news of ban on jam ate-Islami. It is good that such organizations which served the interests of elites are thrown to the dustbin of history.
