B.RAMAN
The Muslim holy fasting period of Ramadan, which
started on July 20,2012, is expected to end on August 18.Muslims all over the
world will be observing the International Quds
( Arabic name for Palestine) Day on August 17, the last Friday of the
fasting period to express solidarity with the Palestinians and renew calls for
the liberation of Jerusalem from Israeli control. The call for the observance
of Al Quds Day was given by Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran in 1979 and is followed
by all Muslims, Sunnis as well as Shias, every year.
2. Muslim feelings of solidarity with each other
and grieving for the sufferings of fellow-Muslims anywhere in the world tend to
remain intense during Ramadan. A careful mapping of violent incidents involving
Muslims across the world would show that many of these incidents took place during
Ramadan. The serial blasts of March 1993 In Mumbai, which are seen by some
terrorism analysts as the first act of catastrophic jihadi terrorism in the
world, were carried out by Dawood Ibrahim’s group, with the help of Pakistan’s
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), during Ramadan.
3. The police and counter-terrorism agencies in
many countries of the world, affected by jihadi terrorism, remain extra alert
and watchful during Ramadan. It is, therefore, quite likely that the Indian
intelligence agencies and the police in different States would also be in a
high state of alert during the present Ramadan.
4.Two persons were killed and 55 , 45 of them
policemen, were injured in Mumbai on August 11,2012, when a group of Muslims
demonstrating against alleged anti-Muslim incidents of violence in Assam turned
violent, clashed with the police and burnt down a number of vehicles, including
some reportedly belonging to the media.
5. The Mumbai Police need to be complimented for
bringing the situation quickly under control, though they seem to have been
initially taken by surprise. Our media also deserves to be congratulated for
reporting on the violence with restraint and balance.
6.This year’s Ramadan has coincided with a period
of suffering for the Muslims because of
the anti-Muslim incidents reported from the Rakhine State of Myanmar and Assam
State of India. Our media has been covering these incidents with its usual
caution, restraint and balance. Some sensational stories, including pics
regarding the anti-Muslim incidents in the Rakhine State, have been circulating
through the Internet.
7.While our media has refrained from disseminating
these sensational stories and pictures, one cannot say the same thing of the TV
media in Pakistan and the West Asian countries. Al Jazeera, for example,
disseminated a story on August 9 regarding alleged atrocities against Muslims
in the Rakhine State. While the text of the story was about alleged
discrimination against Muslims in the Rakhine State, the headline spoke of
regional discrimination against Muslims. The West Asian media is not yet giving
the same focus to Assam, but one should keep
a watch for distorted stories about Assam making their appearance there.
8. The important question is not whether these
stories telecast are accurate or inaccurate. It is what impact such
dissemination will have on the reactions of the ordinary Muslims. The reach of
the Internet in the Islamic world is limited, but that of the Arabic TV
channels is extensive. The dissemination of such stories could have
unpredictable impact on the emotions and reactions of the ordinary Muslims.
9.Till the communal situation returns to normal in
the Rakhine State of Myanmar and in our Assam State, it is important for our
police and intelligence agencies to step up their vigilance and security alert.
It is equally important for our political leadership and administration to
closely interact with the leaders of our Muslim community, keep them informed
of the measures taken by the Government for the relief of the Muslims affected
by the recent violence in Assam and urge them to exercise restraint and not to
exploit the situation for their narrow religious interests which could be
detrimental to broader national interests.
10. If any Indian Muslim leader does not accepts
this advice for moderation and tries to exploit the situation for narrow ends,
the police should not hesitate to act against him or her appropriately under
the law. The political leadership should not interfere with the actions of the
police. (12-8-12)
( The writer is Additional Secretary (retd),
Cabinet Secretariat, Govt of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director,
Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Associate, Chennai Centre For China
Studies. E-Mail: seventyone2@gmail.com . Twitter: @SORBONNE75 )
