New Delhi, 06
Nov. 2021: Leaders of the four leading Muslim
organisations of the country have demanded an inquiry into the role of the
state police and administration in Tripura’s anti-Muslim violence, which
tarnished the image of India, globally.
They were addressing
a joint press conference today here at Press Club of India, orgniased by All India
Muslim Majlis- e-Mushawarat (AIMMM), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Markazi Jamiat
Ahle Hadees Hind and All India Milli Council, subsequently returning from
Tripura’s violence affected areas. A joint delegation comprising of AIMMM Presdient
Navaid Hamid, JIH Vice President Prof Salim Engineer, JIH Secretary Maulana
Shafi Madani, Jamiat AhleHadees secretary Maulana Sheesh Taimi and Milli
Council’s Shams Tabrez Qasmi visited the affected areas of state from 31st
Oct. to 2nd Nov. 2021. They were joined by the state leaders of JIH,
Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) and Imarat-e-Shariah
(North-East). According to the
delegation’s report as many as 16 mosques were attacked in various parts of
Tripura including two in the state capital Agartala, of which four were totally
burnt down, and even copies of the Holy Quran were not spared.
Addressing the media persons, the
community leaders have lamented that the Tripura violence tarnished the image
of the country and it showed that the government is incapable of protecting the
minorities and their places of worship.
Addressing the press conference, AIMMM
president Navaid Hamid said, “Tripura does not have a history of communal
violence and strife but ever since communal people have taken charge of the
helm of affairs in the state, such incidents of communal violence and vandalism
have started taking place. It seems that the communal violence in Tripura is a part of a political agenda to create
communal and religious polarization throughout the country for political gains
in other states, where assembly elections are fast approaching. The delegation stayed in Tripura for
three days and met the victims, the local population including non-Muslims. We
tried to meet the CM of Tripura and the DG Police, but they did not meet the
delegation. These incidents of violence and vandalism did not occur
spontaneously. They appear to be orchestrated. People were incited and provoked
against Muslims. Promoting hate against a community is a big crime. Mosques
were especially targeted so that the Muslim community is demoralized and their
identity is attacked. They should be terrorized and become victims of fear and
anxiety. This is extremely damaging for both Tripura and the entire country.”
Speaking on the occasion, JIH Vice
President Prof. Salim expressed shock over the filing of cases and invoking the
anti-terror law like UAPA against members of the fact find teams, journalists
and activists for sharing the news of the anti-Muslim violence, instead of
taking strong action against miscreants and rioters. He said, “the police and the administration should
have taken timely action against the perpetrators of violence. If timely action
were taken, then maybe these incidents of violence and vandalism could have
been prevented. The anti-social elements and communal mischief mongers are
emboldened by the belief that they will be shielded by the government.”
Condemning the sharing of fake news and
images on social media to create communal strife, hatred and fear among
communities, Prof. Salim Engineer
said, “We must check that and should not forward
such content. In Tripura too, such fake news was created to spread fear and
hatred. Islam also teaches us to verify news before spreading it.”
The press conference was also addressed
by Milli Council’s Shams Tabriz Qasmi and Pervez Miyan. However, Muslim leaders expressed some
satisfaction over the role of the common citizens of Tripura who have not
participated in the unlawful activities of the goons of VHP and Bajrang Dal and
had maintained peace and amity. “It is also noteworthy that Muslim community in
spite of being the target of the perpetrators of violence had not reacted to
any of the provocations and had maintained peace and tranquillity,” they added.
Muslims leaders, during the press
conference jointly demanded the government to conduct an inquiry to find out
the police officers who committed dereliction of duty during the violence. They
said, “We feel that the police and the administration are directly under the
state government and so the state government is also responsible for the violence
in Tripura. The state government is yet to initiate any big action against
those who perpetuated violence. We also demanded that the Tripura government
should provide adequate compensation to the victims, repair the mosques that
have been vandalized. The government must identify and arrest the culprits
behind the dreadful incidents of violence that took place in Panisagar. The
police have all the footage of the violence. Those police officers who did not
prevent the violence should also be subject to enquiry and action must be taken
against them.”
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