By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
The government has hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Muslims. As I was protesting against this conspiracy my son was picked to terrorise me and silence me, says Maulana Amir Rashadi, chief of Uttar Pradesh Ulema Council and director of Jamiatur Rashad of Azamgarh, in an exclusive interview with Mumtaz Alam Falahi of TwoCircles.net.
You have been in the forefront of agitation against the attitude of media and security agencies towards Azamgarh people. Is there any conspiracy behind arresting of your son Talha Amir from Nagpur railway station on December 21?
I know my son very well. When he was leaving home for Hyderabad to join his office I had packed his bag. There was not even a nail cutter in his bag (Police has claimed a pistol was found with Amir at Nagpur station). He had in his bag 2-3 pairs of dress, some roti and halwa.
The government has hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Muslims. As I was protesting against this conspiracy my son was picked to terrorise me and silence me. I have pinned hope only on Allah. I am confident He will save my son and make him free. My fight will continue as it is not against any community but against the oppressors. My fight is against the conspiracy to make Muslims second grade citizen. I have raised my voice against this and Hindus are also with me in this fight.
Police say Talha Amir is suspected to be involved in the Delhi serial blasts. What do you say?
This is a fabricated story of media. The police have not made such accusation. I request the media to not to be supporter of those who are out to destroy the peace and harmony in the country.
Muslim youths are being picked from here and there. Several including Talha Amir and much earlier Mufti Abu Bashar, both from Azamgarh, were picked. Do you think some hardcore Hindutva elements have intruded the intelligence and security agencies or this is just a conspiracy of communal political parties?
I see government’s hand in it. I think police and investigating agencies are not deciding who is innocent and who is criminal. Rather, the government is deciding whom to involve in a particular blast. Muslims have been accused of Delhi blasts and Hindus for Malegaon blast. I think if police and investigating agencies are allowed to work free and honestly and they do their job seriously the terrorism will be eliminated to a big extent. I don’t attach terrorism to any religion or particular community. I think terrorism is on rise here because the government is not doing justice to people.
Why has Azamgarh been targeted?
Not only Azamgarh, the places where Muslims have been in good position have always been targeted through a well-thought out conspiracy – Aligarh, Muradabad, Firozabad, Mau are some examples. Muslims from Azamgarh have long been going abroad to earn money. Now that they are well off a conspiracy has been hatched by communal elements – whether they are in police, intelligence or political parties – to disturb the communal harmony and push Muslims to back.
Following Talha Amir’s arresting there was huge protest in Azamgarh. It was closed for a day. What is your future planning?
I am not a politician that I would like to disturb the government. We want to instill confidence in the Muslim community so that they could overcome the attempts to malign them.
What is the purpose of Ulema Council?
We wanted to form an organization which could work for social, economic, educational and political uplift of the Muslim community. We want to play a positive and constructive role in the development of the nation. Muslims had first waged war of India’s independence. Other communities joined them later. I think Ulema Council should initiate a fight against those who are hell-bent to matr the peaceful and harmonial situation here.