Author: Deena Nath Mishra
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: August 19, 2007
Islamists are testing the tolerance level
of Indians. A number of examples can be cited. Their recent violent attack
on Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen is one. Change is the law of nature
and there are no exceptions to it, not even in Quranic Law - the Shariat.
Yet, there are millions of Islamic fundamentalists and other Islamists who
shun reforms.
Today, in the entire world outside of the
ummah, Islam is hated. Muslims are most unwelcome in the US, Europe and Australia.
In China's Sikiang province they are dealt with a heavy hand. In more than
24 countries, they are in a warlike situation. In Iraq, for months now, there
are more than 100 casualties a day. Similar conditions are reported from Afghanistan
and the NWFP in Pakistan. The only Muslim majority State of India, Jammu &
Kashmir, too, is gripped by Islamic terrorism.
An insightful administrator of colonial India
had once noted on the file that "Muslims are a tyrant majority and troublesome
minority". It can safely be said that Muslim society has lost 60 years
of opportunity of reforms in independent India, the most favourable country.
There may be numerous reasons for this.
Lack of reformist leadership, ghettoisation,
Muslim votebank politics and the grip of fundamentalists over their societal
behaviour. Muslim political parties, too, are unfavourable to a reformist
leadership.
The Congress has long fed the Muslim society
with ever increasing appeasements. Before 1947, it did so in the name of Hindu-Muslim
unity and afterwards for getting votes. Its unity efforts resulted in Partition
and bloodbath of innocent people. Its votebank measures resulted in intensively
competitive votebank politics.
It was by sheer chance that the Congress came
to power in May 2004 and embarked upon the appeasement policy yet again. The
first task it performed after coming to power was ordering repeal of POTA.
The result of its competitive votebank policy was seen in the Kerala Assembly
which unanimously passed a resolution for the release of Maulana Madni. This
week, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has demanded the enactment
of law for women as per the Shariat. It has not done any good to Muslims in
the past nor is it likely to do so in the future.
Through violent activities, the Muslim society
is drifting away from the mainstream. After all, any act of riot, violence
or terrorism leaves an impression on Indians. Recall, when Afzal Guru, chief
conspirator of the attack on Parliament, was given death sentence by Supreme
Court after a three-tier judicial process. Objections were raised by Congress
Chief Minister of J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad. Now, he may die in jail but will
not be hanged. One can also recall that it was this attack over which India
and Pakistan were on the brink of war.
Coming to Taslima Nasreen. She went to Hyderabad
to release the Telegu edition of her book. The Muslim fundamentalist organisation
MIM organised an attack on her at the Press Club. Video clippings show MIM
people attacking her and the hosts trying to protect her. To cap it all, the
police registered a case against Taslima for creating communal disharmony
and hurting Islam. The cops gave in to the wishes of MIM leader Akbaruddin
Owaisi.
The Minority Commission condemned the incident
but, at the same time, recommended not to extend Taslima's visa. Taslima advocated
for women's rights. Her book Lajja was a hit. The Andhra Pradesh High Court,
while dealing with the PIL filed against her, issued notices to Police Commissioner
of Hyderabad, Union Home Secretary and State Home Secretary. The MIM leaders
regretted that they could not kill her. They threatened that if she came to
Hyderabad again, she would be done to death. Till now, nobody has apologised
to her for the security lapse. In Bangladesh she is unwelcome. She wants an
Indian citizenship. Surprisingly, the so-called champions of human rights
and freedom of expression are quiet this time.
A couple of years back, a Danish newspaper
published a series of cartoons of Prophet Mohammed provoking worldwide Islamist
protests. India had nothing to do with the cartoons. Yet, protesters in Lucknow
attacked and killed traders. An Islamist leader offered Rs 51 crore to anyone
who would kill the
cartoonist.
Salman Rushdie wrote Satanic Verses. Iran's
Islamists vowed to pay huge money to the one who killed Rushdie. The Japanese
translator of the book was killed.
Publishers and booksellers, too, were in the
firing line. India did nothing except banning the book. Many people in India
were killed in protest demonstrations. That is how they resist reforms that
come their way.
