Taslima Controversy: No To Appeasement Politics
by Kashif ul-Huda
Taslima Nasreen has nothing to do with Nandigram, but
for some illogical reason she was moved out of Kolkata
as an answer to months of protest against the
Nandigram violence in West Bengal. This is the latest
in a long list of examples of politics of appeasement
practised in India since its independence.
By shipping Nasreen out, the West Bengal government
seems to be “giving in†to the demands of Muslims,
but it has chosen to act on an issue that has no
socio-economic relevance to a majority of them. This
appeases known anti-Muslim parties more than the
average Muslim individual, as it gives them more
ammunition to target Muslims with. It might also
please those Muslim leaders and organizations that
have been campaigning against Nasreen for their own
ulterior motives. These Muslim leaders can now claim
victory and be on the lookout for another symbolic
issue to add another feather in their cap.
The violence in Kolkata that lead to Nasreen’s
ousting happened on Wednesday, 21 November, on a
protest call by a small group called the All Indian
Minorities Forum (AIMF). Contrary to its name, the
AIMF is not found all over India, nor does it
represent all its minorities. Its president, Idris Ali
is known for raising emotive issues. He was found
guilty of being in contempt of the high court when he
reportedly urged the imams of Kolkata to defy the
court ban on the use of loudspeakers for azan.
Last week’s protest was attended by a few thousand,
and for some unexplained reason the protesters
resorted to battles with the police. The Kolkata
Police, which should be an expert in dealing with
demonstrations of any kind, was ill-prepared to handle
the small numbers of youth engaged in the violence.
Just five days earlier, about 100,000 Muslims had
descended on Kolkata for a peaceful demonstration
against the violence in Nandigram. This was organized
by Milli Ittehad Parishad, a body made up of various
Muslim organizations such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind,
Jamaat-e-Islami Milli Council and Majlis-e-Mushawarat.
If the Muslims of West Bengal really wanted to resort
to violence, why didn’t they choose that Friday’s
rally instead of Wednesday?
Some other questions: Why did the state government
“give in†to a few violent youths and a small,
unknown organization, but not pay attention to the
silent cry of 100,000 Muslims and a respectable,
established Muslim organization? Are we not sending
the wrong message to the Muslims of India that the
only way to get your voice heard is violence? Does
that explain the bomb blasts in various cities all
across India? Also, why is the government not ready to
budge on Nandigram, which is a social, economic and
justice problem? What made it listen to the demand of
a few Muslims on an issue that is symbolic and of
religious sentiment?
These questions are not only for the West Bengal
government; it is asked of all states and the Centre.
Government officials, professionals, journalists,
businessmen and everyone need to realize that if India
is to reach its full potential it has to listen to the
legitimate demands of the majority of Muslims.
Fortunately, their demand of justice, equality,
dignity, security, education, employment, etc., are
those of any other Indian, there is nothing religious
about these. Issues and demands that are religious in
nature should be seen on their merit and not because
of an opportunity to play the politics of appeasement.
Let not a tiny violent minority dictate what Indian
Muslims want. More important, let not politicians
reward this violent minority. If political parties are
allowed to keep playing appeasement politics, they
will keep Indian Muslims, and India, backward.
Kashif-ul-Huda is the editor of news website
www.TwoCircles.net which focuses mainly on Indian
Muslim issues. He can be contacted on
kaaashif@gmail.com
Sukhia Sab Sansar Khaye Aur Soye
Dukhia Das Kabir Jagey Aur Roye
The world is 'happy', eating and sleeping
The forlorn Kabir Das is awake and weeping
*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:mukto-mona-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:mukto-mona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
mukto-mona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: