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Opposite sides blamed
for Kanpur riots
By Obaid Nasir, Lucknow
Chief Minister Rajnath Singh has hinted
banning Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for its alleged
involvement in Kanpur riots which Muslims and other secular elements term
as police action against Muslims. CM Singh has claimed that the government
has solid proof against this organization, yet a thorough probe would be
ordered once normalcy is restored in the city. Shahnawaz, an alleged SIMI
activist, was arrested by Kanpur police from Phoolmati Tiraha with some
explosives and objectionable posters and other material. He was thoroughly
interrogated by the police which however, did not reveal what Shahnawaz
told them.
It may be noted that the BJP, and particularly its state president Kalraj
Misra, has constantly been demanding ban on this organization for its
alleged links with Taliban, Lashkare Toiba and other similar outfits. Ram
Prakash Gupta government had sent a proposal to the union home ministry
for banning the organization but since solid proofs were not furnished the
ban could not be imposed. The Kanpur riot provided an opportunity to state
government and BJP to renew its demand.
However, the entire opposition including Congress, Samajwadi Party, BSP
and left parties have demanded banning Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal
and other Hindu militant organizations whose involvement in different
communal riots has been proved beyond doubt. Mulayam Singh Yadav has
threatened ‘direct action’ if unilateral decision to ban SIMI is
taken. BSP’s Mayavati is of the opinion that the riots in Kanpur were
engineered by BJP and Sangh Parivar to divert public attention from
Tahelka exposures. She has also demanded a ban on Bajrang Dal and VHP.
On the other hand SIMI seems to be firm in its resolve to create more and
more problems for the community. Its President Dr Shahid Badr Falahi
recently addressed a press conference in Lucknow and made certain
provocative and irresponsible statements. For example, when his attention
was drawn towards the posters displayed by SIMI praying ‘Ai Khuda Bhej
de koi Ghaznawi’(O God send a Mahmood of Ghazni) he justified it by
saying that Dalits and other weaker communities are victims of atrocities
and as Mahmood of Ghazni had invaded India to provide help to the weak and
downtrodden, so a new Ghaznawi is awaited. However, this explanation
hardly satisfies anyone.
On the destruction of Buddha statues in Afghanistan, Falahi suggested a
debate on idol worship. He, however, refused to condemn the Taliban over
this dastardly act which has invited condemnation from all over the world
including Muslim countries. Akhilendra Pratap Singh state secretary of
Communist Party of India (ML) who visited the affected areas with Muslim
Forum President Nehaluddin told the MG that the PAC let loose a reign of
terror in Kanpur and used anti-social elements of the majority community
to loot properties belonging to the Muslim community and destroy mosques.
He also criticized the role of SIMI and disclosed that a verse of Qur'an
was wrongly interpreted to provoke Muslims.
The issue was raised in both the houses of the state legislature on the
very first day of its budget session. The entire opposition was on its
feet the moment Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri entered the house for his
address. He was compelled to make a hasty retreat even without reading his
address. The opposition was blaming state government for what happened in
Kanpur and was demanding immediate withdrawal of PAC and deployment of the
Army and central police. Pramod Tewari of Congress, Mr. Dhani Ram Verma of
Samajwadi Party SP Maurya of BSP Kaukab Hameed of Lokdal followed by their
respective members trooped into the well of the house demanding
resignation of the chief minister. In the upper house leader of opposition
Ahmad Hasan and BSP legislator Ghayasuddin Kidwai took the government to
task and condemned the police atrocities and PAC's partial role. q |
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