By TwoCircles.net staff reporter

New Delhi : All India Tanzeem Ulema-i-Haque expressed its concern over the government's bid to ignore the great sacrifices of Muslims and Ulema to the first war of independence 1857, which was fought by Indian citizens cutting across religious affiliations.

"When 150 years of this historical event is being celebrated with much zeal and enthusiasm, it is unfortunate to forget Muslims, particularly Ulema who fought fearlessly and laid down their lives to liberate the country," general secretary of the organisation Maulana Ejaz Qasmi said in a press statement.

He added that Muslims all over the country had played a very active role in the first war of independence. "It was the Muslims who had raised the voice of total independence. That is why the British made the Muslims target of their oppression and ruthless military action much more than any other community so much so that they destroyed many a village and helmet of Muslim concentration. About 12,000 Ulema were sent to the gallows in Delhi alone," he asserted.

Maulana Qasmi further said, "While the advertisements released by Government of India on the various TV channels highlight Nana Sahib, Jhansi ki Rani and other Hindu freedom fighters in relation to 1857 war, it is in no way proper to ignore the Last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. Without mentioning the names of Ulema and some other Muslims the history of 1857 cannot be complete."

He also called upon the government to take positive and realistic measures in this regard and give Muslim freedom fighters their due place in textbooks as well as in the various spheres of life.