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Q.: How long will nationalist forces
particularly the Hindus have to face attacks like the ones In Marad?
A.: Who can say with certainty
how long will it continue? What happened in Marad is quite different from
what had happened so far. There were always clashes. But this time there
was no clash. It was an unprovoked, premeditated and one-sided attack on
unsuspecting Hindus. This is the first of its kind after the Mopla riots
of 1921. It was deliberate mass killing. Some people tried to create an
impression that this is a reaction to what happened last year. This is
certainly not a reaction to the last year's clash. Because those who were
attacked and killed in Marad are not people who had participated in last
year's clashes. This is something like the happenings in Kashmir where
terrorist gangs suddenly appear from nowhere, kill a number of innocents
and disappear. Again, according to police reports, preparations were going
on for more than a year. A plan was made and all decisions were taken in
the mosque in which a large quantity of weapons was collected and stored.
Another aspect is that the time chosen was a Friday, which imparts the
action a colour of jehad in the mind of the 'faithful'. It was purported
to be a 'religious duty'. This was the time when Sangh Siksha Vargas were
in progress at three places and all senior Sangh workers were attending
the camps and were, therefore, not immediately available for prompt collective
consultation. All this shows meticulous planning.
Q.: What has been the role of the
local political parties during and after the massacre?
A.: What good can one expect from
the local political parties? Those arrested belong to the Muslim League,
the CPM and the Congress. Some of them are even important functionaries
of these parties. This makes it clear that the terrorists are operating
under cover of all major political parties. These parties can certainly
not plead that their hands are clean. Such a planning over a long period
of time in the mosque, collecting arms and ammunition and hatching a conspiracy
in which a large number of people are involved, cannot be done without
the political masters knowing about it. In fact, a League's minister was
put in charge of overseeing Marad, the spot selected for the massacre.
He has been visiting the locality frequently. It is inconceivable that
he was totally unaware of the goings on in Marad. The public demands that
he own the responsibility-at least moral responsibility and resign.
Q.: Unlike in other States why are
nationalist forces much too weak in Kerala?
A.: Obviously nationalist forces
suffer the most in Kerala. The RSS is well organised and widespread all
over the State. But this is only one part of the picture here are pockets
of Islamic fundamentalists who are well-entrenched economically and politically
and receive enormous foreign funds. These people have built big institutions
and run three major newspapers in the State. The Muslim League holds vital
portfolios in the State Government. Unlike elsewhere in the country the
Muslims of Kerala are not educationally backward; numerically too they
are no less strong. The recent census shows that there has been an alarming
growth in Muslim population. They have a district (Malappuram) where they
have absolute majority and in three other districts (Kozhikode, Wayanad
and Kasargod) they have a sizeable presence. According to the latest delimitation
of constituencies, the Malabar area will have five additional seats, all
of which are likely to go to the Muslim League. On the other hand, BJP
does not have even a single seat. Against this background, nationalist
forces are inadequate though they are not insignificant.
Q.: How could the nationalist forces
be strengthened?
A.: Some elements among the Muslims
are united even in the case of terrorists' activities. Party consideration
does not come in the way. On the other hand, the Hindu society is not united.
Casteism is still strong. If Hindus become united they can save themselves
and protect their interest. But even when it happens, the problem of the
Islamic threat will not disappear because it is part of the national and
international Islamic challenge. Another factor is that Muslims have successfully
eliminated Hindus from large areas of coastal Kerala. Even after Independence,
systematic ethnic cleansing continues. This is another dimension of the
Marad episode. In fact, in Marad the Hindu fishing community, although
quite strong and organised, is surrounded by Muslim pockets. Here also
the plan is to see to it that the Hindu fishermen are either converted
or eliminated. A radical demographic change .of the coastal belt can prove
a major security threat. Military intelligence has already warned the Government
about this. There has to be unity among Hindus and, on the other hand,
the Centre must take remedial measurers like breaking the external ah of
the terrorist gangs operating in Kerala by stopping all foreign funding,
asking State Government to take immediate and concrete action against the
terrorist training camps and most importantly putting a stop to the misuse
of mosques.
Q.: How can nationalist forces in
other parts of the country come to the succour of Kerala?
A.: There has to be awareness about
basic facts. In the case of Kashmir, people know that it is terrorism.
But in Kerala, they blindly look upon these developments as reactionary
clashes between the two communities. They should realise the true nature
and magnitude of the problem. Marad is a warning and it must be taken for
what it is. The Centre has a significant role to play. Things should not
be allowed to go from bad to worse. Delay in applying the right remedy
and sticking to a simplistic view of what is happening in Kerala will cost
heavily. Eventually such happenings have an adverse impact on the State's
economy. It adversely affects the investment climate. It has been admitted
even also by a State Minister that Marad has damaged the image Kerala for
potential investors.
Q.: What would be the political
impact of this violence?
A.: As far as the political impact
of this violence is concerned, the organisational strength of the Muslim
League will not be ignored by any forum. Therefore, there is not going
to be immediate and concrete shift in political alignment. If the BJP could
become the nucleus of third front within reasonable time, there could be
a shift in the alignment of forces, bringing the nationalist parties to
the fore.
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