A Akhter / AMN / NEW DELHI /
Prominent Muslim organisations of the country today came down heavily on the central government and security agencies for launching, what they called ‘smear campaign against Indian Muslims’ on the pretext of terrorism and ISIS.
While unanimously declaring the ISIS as a terrorist organisation which isn’t even remotely connected with Islam and its teachings, They threatened to launch countrywide agitation against the government, if the ongoing arrest of ‘innocent Muslim youths’ are not stopped immediately.
“The arrest of innocent Muslims mere on suspicion should be immediately stopped. Cases should be withdrawn from those against whom no substantial proof was found and they should be immediately released” they stressed.
“We are deeply concerned at the nationwide arrests of Muslim youths and clerics on suspicion of having links with ISISI and Al-Qaeda just before the Republic Day. Muslim organisations see it as an organized conspiracy to malign Islam and Muslims, suspect their patriotism, terrorise them and to get political benefits by creating hatred between Hindus and Muslims” said representatives of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, Jamiat Ahle Hadees, Muslim Majlis e Mashawerat, All India Milli Council, Welfare Party of India at a press conference here today.
They said that at a counter-terrorism conference in Jaipur about one year ago, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had categorically said that Indian Muslims are patriotic, ISIS has failed to attract Muslim youths and has little influence on them. Soon after that, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his US visit, had said also said the same thing.
“But about one year later, just before this Republic Day, agencies began arresting Muslims across the country on suspicion of having links with ISIS and Al-Qaeda. This gave an impression as if Muslim youths are not only in contact with ISIS but are also actively engaged in preparation for terror attacks in the entire country just before the Republic Day and are busy recruiting and radicalizing youth for joining ISIS ranks”, they said in a statement.
Muslim organisations believed that these youths will also be acquitted of terror charges in the same manner as those innocent Muslim youths arrested in similar cases in the past. But until they get justice 10-15 years of these innocent youths are lost and they face difficulties in restarting their social life.
These Muslim organisations reminded that some of the major terror attacks in the country, in which Muslims were earlier implicated, were later found to be linked with Hindutva terror.
“In the terror blasts at Mecca Masjid, Malegaon, Ajmer Dargah and Samjhauta Express, the probes of intelligence agencies had exposed the network of Hindutva terror. Muslim organisations have apprehension that the central government is looking for possible ways to release the accused in Hindutva terror incidents by weakening their cases”, said Engineer Saleem of Jamaat-E-Islami Hind.
The president of the All India Muslim Majlis e Mashawerat naved Hamid said that, this apprehension was created in the wake of the recent admission of NIA in the Supreme Court that the central government and union home ministry are considering lifting MCOCA from the cases of Hindutva terror accused.
“Arrest of innocent Muslim youths on one hand and steps for release of the accused in big Hindutva terror cases prove that the ruling party is implementing its communal agenda and its slogan of “Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas” was just a mirage” contended Hameed Noomani of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
They demanded a high-level probe to fully expose the Hindutva terror network uncovered by slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare and also the cases brought to light by admission and revelations of Swami Aseemanand.
They suggested that a core group should be formed comprising human rights organisations working in terror cases, civil society groups and community organisations. Every such case should be referred to the panel. “This core group would work as a watchdog. Only this will help establish mutual harmony, contact and cooperation between police and public and will shut the door of misunderstandings”, it underlined.