Ram Puniyani

Posted October 14, 2000

After the worst ever riots witnessed by Mumbai in the aftermath of Babri demolition (92-93) and the Coimbtore riots, it seemed as if this community will be spared of the communal onslaught. The Anti-Muslim propaganda was muted for the time being as most of the venom now was spewed on the believers of Jesus. And it appeared that the much-battered Muslim community will have some respite.

But probably it was too much of optimism. Soon the intimidation and harassment of the largest minority community began but this time there is a mix of the open violence supplemented by the intensification of the subtle harassment. So far the anti-Muslim violence till the early 90s was riding on the myths around medieval history and the demographic manipulations, now the major and subtle thrust is to identify them with Pakistan's nefarious designs and the ISI. The anti-Muslim violence till early 90s, which started with the 1962 Jabalpur riots, went on becoming worse and resulted in the loss of people and property, the 65% of riot victims being Muslims (though their population is 12% or so only, in Mumbai riots the Muslim victims were 80% of the total riot victims) and most of the property destroyed again belonging to this minority community. The worst of these riots took place in the 80s and they peaked in 1990 to 93. During 1990-92 there were 4300 incidents killing 3350 people, scattered all over India, while in 1992-93 the focus was in Mumbai, Ayodhya and Surat with number of incidents being 2371 and those loosing their lives were 1030 if not more.

This current phase began especially in the post-Kargil scenario. Hindutva patriotism was given an intense anti-Muslim slant with anger directed outside against Pakistan has been supplemented by the ire directed against the Indian Muslims. Lately most of the subversive activities are being attributed to the ISI, part with proof, and part as an exercise of finding a scapegoat. The 'foreign hand' theory of involvement of out side forces in Pastor Stain's murder exemplifies this the best. Immediately in the aftermath of the roasting alive of Pastor Stains with his two innocent sons the three top ministers of BJP led coalition rushed to Manoharpur, Orissa and in a day's investigation came out with a 'startling' finding that there is a plot to destabilize the BJP led Coalition so this international conspiracy of buring alive the Pastor with his minor sons, hinting to the ISI probably, but leaving it sufficiently vague.

Govt. harassment of the Muslim youth is clear in the cases like the one's which took place in Shibli National Post Graduate College (SNPC), and Jamia Milia Islamia. In both these cases the SP affiliate ABVP led the offensive to be followed by the raids by the state police. In both these cases all the arrested boys happened to be Muslims and subjected to intense humiliation by the police for being Muslims. The one's with beard and wearing pajama kurta being the chosen recipient of police ire. In Jamia police arrested the students without warrant. The police contingent of close to a thousand broke open the gate of the hostel, beat up the warden and then mercilessly beat all around while hurling highly communal abuses, calling the students Pakistani agents, ISI agents and also making other derogatory remarks like that these Muslim students have made a Pakistan out of the hostel and University. It is worth recalling that Jamia Milia Islamia is one of the products of the struggle for independence and has been the flag bearer of Indian Nationalism, Secularism and Democracy.

In Aligargh Muslim University the police in civic dress arrested one ex-student and an intern Dr. Mobin at the Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College within the university, from outside his hostel without informing and taking permission of the Vice Chancellor which is a must. The way things are being conducted gives the impression that Govt. machinery is working on the dictum that every Muslim student is an ISI agent, unless proved otherwise. It is totally another matter that amongst those caught for spying for ISI and Pakistan there are a good number of people from different communities.

In civic areas the anti-Muslim violence is picking up again as more and more incidents are being used to unleash violence upon them. The massacre of Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir was followed by an attack on the community and its property in Surat. Also Ganesh immersion processions are becoming the points around which the violence is unleashed many a times (Nanded etc.) All these have dangerous portents, as the already alienated community is being further intimidated with the result that the alienation will increase and will make them more susceptible to the overtures of ISI.

It is interesting to note that VHP and Bajarang Dal have declared that they would set up security outposts along international border to counter ISI activities. Bajarang Dal is training the Hindutva warriors in the use of firearms. The intrusion of these extra-constitutional bodies is very dangerous as the state is also ruled by their own 'family member' the BJP. There statements to initiate training of their followers to keep a check on the activities ISI essentially means a further targeting of this community and further alienation.

It is beyond any shade of doubt that any threatened community becomes more susceptible to overtures of the external espionage agencies. The ruling BJP's affiliates have been conducting an aggressive propaganda against the Muslims. The attitude of the state administration, which tars whole community in the same brush, will further worsen the problem rather than solving it. Again dealing with the Mumbai 92-93 riots and the bomb blast are a good example about the differential attitude. While the suspects involved in the blasts were and are being tried in the special TADA courtand have been put behind the bar, the culprits of the riots as pointed out by the Shrikrishna Commission, are moving with great amount of assertion and confidence about their patriotism. This report was initially rejected as being anti-Hindu by the Shiv Sena-BJP govt. and even current DF Govt. rather then implementing its findings seems to be more interested in making a political capital of it. One shudders to think of the consequences of intensifying the alienation of the minorities and their continuous intimidation even when the President of the leading party of the coalition calls them 'blood of our blood and flesh of our flesh'.