New Delhi

Milli Council pays tribute to Mumbai cops

NEW DELHI: Expressing its shock and anguish over the recent terror attacks in Mumbai, the All-India Milli Council on Saturday sympathised with the kith and kin of those killed and acknowledged the sacrifice of “brave cops” like Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar.

Addressing a national convention, “Eradicate terrorism, build nation”, at Jamia Millia Islamia here, Milli Council general secretary Mohammad Manzoor Alam said: “Horrendous events like the Mumbai attacks have become part of our consciousness. We know that too many external elements and agencies have entered the scene. Although one-fourth of the victims of the attacks were Muslims and all attackers were outsiders, the Bharatiya Janata Party tried to corner the Indian Muslims once again over the issue. We are convinced that even the handful of Indian Muslims accused of terrorist acts have been a victim of the Sangh Parivar’s terror.”

Pointing out that even before the Deoband Declaration every masjid across the country had condemned terrorism, former Member of Parliament Syed Shahabuddin charged that in the name of terrorism atrocities were being committed on the minority community in the country.

“To terrorise a particular community is not correct. If Muslim leaders have been repeatedly condemning terrorism, this doesn’t mean that we have a guilt complex. There is a fear psychosis among the younger generation as community profiling is going on and our areas are under strict surveillance,” he said.

Expressing concern over “the rise of Hindu terrorism”, Mr. Shahabuddin said: “After 1947, Hindu terrorism started taking shape as a number of young men from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s shakhas joined the Army. They have been indoctrinated with anti-Muslim feelings. The destruction of Babri Majid in Ayodhya and the killings of Muslims in Gujarat were nothing but acts of State terrorism. Therefore, the resolution [to be passed by the convention] must condemn Muslim, Hindu and State terrorism.”

Rajya Sabha member Ahmed Saeed Malihabadi said a threadbare investigation should be conducted to find out the place of origin of the ten terrorists who had attacked Mumbai a month ago. “The war hysteria and phobia going on in India and Pakistan these days has vitiated the atmosphere. I am afraid if this kind of talk continues and another terror attack occurs then there is likelihood that the two nations can go to war against each other. While in the Mumbai attacks nearly 200 people were killed, in case of a war there would be thousands of widows and orphans on both side of the border. Both India and Pakistan should despatch a goodwill delegation to diffuse the volatile situation and put an end to war mongering.”

To put at rest all controversy surrounding the identity of the lone terrorist of the Mumbai attacks, Kasab, National Integration Council member Navaid Hamid said a genetic test on Kasab and his relatives in Pakistan would establish his lineage.

In a resolution, the All-India Milli Council demanded constitution of a commission of inquiry headed by a retired Chief Justice of India to look into matters on terrorism.

The Milli Council has also demanded that the probes into the Melegaon, Nanded and Hari Masjid cases be taken to their logical conclusion. It has urged the Centre to drop all cases under TADA and POTA and immediately release all individuals held without charges under these laws.

Besides urging the Government to ratify the United Nations Convention against torture and enact a national law against torture, the Council has called upon the Centre to remain committed to the principles of non-alignment and not yield to pressure from big powers in formulation of foreign policy.

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