NEW DELHI: Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari on Tuesday hinted at the need to float a political party which would protect the interests of the Muslim community ahead of the general elections scheduled next year. Stating that "the need is being felt in the light of recent incidents of atrocities" against the community, he called upon the leaders to come out with a common minimum programme, shedding their differences.

He did not spell out the timing of any announcement on this issue, but said that the community was in favour of such a move since there was a need to unite it to create a political force.

Addressing a gathering of Muslim clerics at All Indian Muslim Organizations meeting held at Jama Masjid on Tuesday, he said the community would organize a series of rallies against the police and government action against the community's youth, beginning with Delhi and Azamgarh in UP.

"Paani apna raasta nikal leta hai (water will find its way). If political parties fail to address our concerns, we have to find a political solution," he said.

However, the date of the mega rally could not be decided in the day-long marathon meeting which went on till late evening. Earlier in the day, the religious leaders had said that holding such rallies would erode the fear of police 'terror' against the community.

Cashing in on the emotive issue of the Batla House encounter and 'prevailing' fear of police in the Jamia locality, Bukhari said, "Khuda ka khauf hona chahiye, hukumat ka nahin (There should be fear of the Almighty, not of the government)." Though he railed against Bajrang Dal, VHP and Shiv Sena, demanding complete ban on their activities, he did not spare the Congress either. "Who is in power in Assam, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh? They have utilized us to come to power," the Imam said.

He wasn't soft on UP chief minister Mayawati, who has started coming closer to the community ahead of the general elections, saying, "What good she can do to us when her government could not protect innocents in Azamgarh?"

Maulana Arshad Madni, chairman of Jamait Ulema-e-Hind said he could not comment on the creation of a political party since the Shahi Imam did not spell it out clearly. He added the community could look into the necessity of launching an eletronic channel for 'neutral' coverage of terror incidents.

By evening the leaders had unanimously decided to form a committee which would deal with the security concern. "The committee would look into all issues in case security forces carry out fake encounters, pick up people without any valid reason or arrest the innocent," said a leader. Participants also demanded setting up of a judicial commission to find out whether there were valid reasons to file a chargesheet against those who have been arrested for alleged terrorist activities. "If there is a case and there is enough evidence and the commission gives the go-ahead, we will not oppose," they said. The religious leaders who came from different parts of the country also decided to ask the government to enact a law on the lines of the one related to atrocities against SC and ST, saying "terming anyone a terrorist is a bigger crime than addressing him in his caste name".

dipak.dash@timesgroup.com

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