Naib Imam blames Centre

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 11.

The Naib Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, has held the Union Government responsible for what he described as the country's ``worsening communal atmosphere'' and accused the BJP and its frontal organisations for creating terror among the Muslim community.

Launching a scathing attack on the BJP and other secular political parties, including the Congress(I), Syed Bukhari in his pre-Friday prayer sermon here today called upon his brethren to chalk out its course of action for achieving stable political power. ``A begging bowl is no longer going to help. We cannot secure our rights without a strong political power,'' he said.

``All the so-called secular parties and leaders have failed to come to our rescue in our hour of need. All these 52 years Muslims have been merely exploited by them,'' Syed Bukhari said. He accused leaders like the Congress(I) president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, the Samajwadi Party chief, Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, for playing with the sentiments of the community.

According to him, while all parties expressed their concern over the recent Amarnath massacre, none cared to raise their voice over the ``inhuman behaviour of communal forces'' during the Surat bandh call given by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

``Soon after the massacre the VHP had threatened to take revenge. This revenge has started from Surat and no action in this regard has been initiated so far,'' he said. ``As per eyewitness accounts, a large number of pilgrims died in cross firing by Indian forces. The refusal of the Union Government to institute an inquiry is ample proof that there is something wrong,'' Syed Bukhari said.

Referring to the cases of treason registered against him and his father Shahi Imam Maulana Syed Abdullah Bukhari, he said: ``If demanding and raising voice for rights and justice for the oppressed and depressed people is a crime then we are ready to face any punishment.'' He alleged that those who were voicing their support for the minorities were being booked in fictitious cases.

Commenting on the present volatile situation in Kashmir, he said the world knows that militancy began simultaneously in Kashmir and Punjab at the behest of Pakistan. ``In Punjab, it has been crushed but in Kashmir it still exists. Why? Only the Government can answer this.''

Besides Pakistan's hostile attitude, ``our insincerity to the cause'' is also responsible for the prevailing situation in Kashmir, Syed Bukhari said.

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