By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: With every passing day, anger against the government decision to allow controversial writer Salman Rushdie in India is mounting. After top Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband, many Muslim organizations are agitating against the decision.
Mumbai-based Raza Academy shot a letter to the UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi demanding the cancellation of visa to Salman Rushdie.
Raza Academy members on Wednesday agitated in a unique way. They were wearing the mask of Salman Rushdie and polishing the shoes of Muslims coming for namaz in Minara Mosque.
In the wake of elections in five states and of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Mohammed Saeed Noori, General Secretary of Raza Academy warned of electoral consequences. His letter states, “You must also think about the electoral losses in coming election.”
However, answering a question if Raza Academy will oppose the Congress in the coming Municipal election in Mumbai, Saeed Noorie replied in negative. He said, “We are not making any announcement as of yet but, Muslims in general will vote against Congress for this decision.”
Raza Academy also demanded the cancellation of Visa to Tasleema Nasreen and reminded Sonia Gandhi about the infamous Satanic Verses. It said, “Salman Rushdie and Tasleema Nasreen hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and they roam free but if Muslims agitate, they are fired at, arrested and cases are filed against them.”
It also asked the question why in the name of democracy our government allows the people like Tasleema Nasreen and Salman Rushdie who hurt the sentiments of minorities. They are danger to peace in our country.
Maulana Moinuddin Ashrafi also criticized the UPA government and said, “The government is committing a mistake. It did not care for the millions of Muslims.”
Mustaqeem Makki, editor of Huda Times said, “Government decision is not at par with its secular credentials.”
He added, “If government does not take corrective measures it will have to bear the consequences in the coming election.”
Feeling the heat of growing anger against Congress led UPA government’s inaction in Salman Rushdie case, a delegation of Muslim leaders from Congress including, Arif Nasim Khan, Minister of Minority Affairs, Maharashtra, Nizamuddin Raeen, President Minority affairs Mumbai Congress are going to meet Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chauhan on Wedensday.
Answering to the demand of Deoband, Salman Rushdie tweeted that he is not required to apply for visa since he got the card of Person of Indian Origin.
Mumbai has witneseds the killing of 9 persons when police fired at the agitators in 1989.
Rushdie is scheduled to visit to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival from 20th to 24th January, 2012.
Rushdie, in 1988, wrote the book “The Satanic Verses” which has blasphemous content and thus earned the wrath of Muslims world over. The Supreme leader of Iran Ayatullah Khomeini then issued a fatwa against him.