By Syed Zainulabedin,
HYDERABAD: Renowned Islamic Scholar Dr. Tahir-ul-Qaudri plunged into a new controversy when he told Muslims to “Forget the past and think of future”. Dr. Qaudri who is on India tour was talking to newsmen in Vodadora, Gujarat which is ruled by BJP’s strong Chief Minister Narendra Modi under whose regime hundreds of Muslims were massacred in communal riots 10 years ago. Dr. Qaudri spent two days in Gujarat and addressed series of meetings.
Many Muslim Uelma and leaders of various Muslim organisations strongly condemned the remarks of Dr. Tahir -ul- Qaudri and demanded that he should either withdraw his remarks or apologise Muslims as the Gujarat riots are unforgettable and Muslims of this country want to see the culprits of the riots be punished and sent to jail.
Qaudri was State Guest of Gujarat
Dr. Tahir-ul- Qaudri who also runs an International Islamic Organisation “Minhajul Quran” with its head quarters in UK was given a status of “State Guest” by the Gujarat government during his two day tour which commenced just two days before the 10th anniversary of Godhra riots. He was given Z plus security and more than 300 policemen were posted around the venue where he addressed a huge gathering in Vadodara. The minister of state for home Praful Patel was among the dignitaries seated on the dais. Dr. Qaudri thanked the state Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his gesture and the hospitality.
Hyderabad cleric calls to boycott Quadri
Maulana Naseeruddin of Hyderabad who was prisoned more than 8 years in Gujarat jail for allegedly plotting the assassination of Narendra Modi’s ex cabinet colleague and former Home Minister Haren Pandiya termed Dr. Qaudri’s remarks unwarranted and demanded an apology from him. He appealed to Muslims of Hyderabad to boycott the meetings of Dr. Tahir-ul- Qaudri to be held from Feb29-March 4 in the city. He said that Narendra Modi is the worst enemy of Muslims today and he was not only behind the Gujarat riots of 2002 but also fake encounters of more than a dozen Muslim men and women. How can an Islamic Scholar praise a communal Chief Minister like Modi, he asked. Two sons of Moulana Naseeruddin are still in the Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail under various charges.
Dr. Tahir -ul- Qaudri is not the only one and first person who praised Narendra Modi. Last year in Janaury the then Vice Chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband Moulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi praised the state government of Gujarat but that costs his job. The Majlis Shura of Darul Uloom, a leading seminary in India, removed Moulana Vastanvi for his remarks.
An aide to Dr. Tahir -ul- Qaudri refuted this and said that Dr. Qaudri was attributed wrongly by media. “In fact Dr. Tahirl -ul Qaudri refused to comment on the conditions of Gujarat or Muslims in the state and said he is not even aware about the state geagrophy of Gujarat”.
Dr. Tahir -ul- Qaudri arrived in Hyderabad on Tuesday and he is scheduled to address about 5 huge meetings in the city. Those includes two in the Quli Qutub Shah staduim in the old city. One at MIM’s headquarters Darruslaam, Aghapura and two at the City Convention Center Nampally in the new city. He was received at the airport by Hyderabad Mayor Mohammed Majid Hussain, MIM General Secretary and MLA Ahmed Pasha Qaudri and office bearers of Minhajul Quran Hyderabad Chapter.