Condemning inflammatory speeches by BJP leaders post-Dadri lynching, the Deobandi Muslim clerics have also castigated the ruling SP for handling loose-canon political leaders with kid gloves and also for poor law and order in UP.
Former Mohatamim (vice-chancellor) of Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Gulam Rasool Vastanvi regretted the lynching of Mohammed Akhlaq in Bisada village of Dadri.
“Grave injustice was done to Akhlaq and his kin. He waslynched merely on the suspicion that beef was stored and cooked at his house.It should be a matter of great concern for any responsible government. I hold the UP government solely responsible for the incident’’, said the Maulana .
“I believe that the anti-socials who barged into Akhlaq’s house had the backing of the local administration. They were confident of being let off after the incident. If one does wrong, the law should take its course. How can a person be lynched the way Akhlaq was,’’ querried Maulana Vastanvi.
The Maulana, who now heads an Islamic religious institution ‘Jamia Ishtaul Uloom, Akalkuva’ in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra said, “The UP government wants to shelve the matter by announcing financial assistance of Rs 45 lakh to the victim’s family. I am not convinced ; the government should ensure justice to the family of the victim.’’
In July 2010, Maulana Vastanvi’s comments on the then CM of Gujarat, Narendra Modi had shaken Muslim politics of India as his comments were interpreted as praise. The Maulana had to quit Darul Uloom Deoband, following the controversy.
Similarly, Sahar mufti of Muzaffarnagar and member of UP Minority Commission, Maulana Zulfikar said: “The Dadri incident is the result of a well planned conspiracy to keep the communal pot boiling till the 2017 UP Assembly polls. The RSS talks about ‘love Jehad’, ‘Ghar Vapsi’, teasing of Hindu girls and now cow slaughter.”
“Besides the BJP, I also hold poor law and order in UP and indifferent police and administration responsible for the incident. It is a now or never situation for the SP government. If they fail to act now, then they will face the consequences in the 2017 Assembly polls.’’
Jamat-e-Islami has also flayed the SP government and the BJP for the Dadri incident. “It is not an isolated incident but part of a well organized plan to stoke hatred against minorities with the ultimate objective of making India a RsHindu Rashtra’. This has also made India a laughing stock at international fora. Parties like the SP are interested in reaping electoral gains from the incident. Its matter of shame for the community that the CM instead of visiting the victim’s family at Dadri, summoned them in his RsRaj Darbar’ in lucknow,’’ said National Secretary, Jamat-e-Islami, Salim Engineer.
Head of Darul Uloom Zakaria, Deoband, Maulana Arshad Farooqui said, “Both the Central and the UP government are responsible. The UP government failed to act against BJP leaders spewing venomous speeches further vitiating the atmosphere in the state.’’
The Maulana pointe dout, “The Muzaffarnagar riots now Dadri incident suggest that there is a tacit truck between the SP and the BJP. Had the CM gone to Dadri to meet the victims family, the situation would have been defused and sent a positive and conciliatory signal to all sections of the society’’.