By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: Maulana Mahmood Madani, Member of Parliament and former general secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, expressed his grave concern over and condemned the communal riots in Chittaurgarh (Rajasthan) and Palanpur (Gujarat) during Holi.
Maulana Madani said the passage of Religious Freedom Bill in Rajasthan Assembly has tremendously strengthened fascist and communal forces. On the pretext of Holi, they attacked Miladun Nabi procession and caused loss of lives and wealth to Muslims. He said 28 shops and 16 kiosks belonging to Muslims were looted and torched besides cutting electric supply to Muslim areas. While the culprits belonging to the majority community are still at large, two dozen Muslims have been arrested, he said.
Meanwhile, in a fresh development, Rajasthan Governor Shailendra Kumar Singh has indicated that the Rajasthan Religious Freedom Bill will meet the fate of its earlier version. Addressing a gathering of Christians on the occasion of Easter celebrations on 23rd March, the governor said “We have to respect all religions equally and strive for the uplift of society, and unity in society and harmony could be brought only through our good behaviour and not by bills and legislation.” The statement has led to speculation that the anti-conversion bill, passed by the state assembly recently, would go the same way as the previous one that was passed in 2006. That bill was sent back to the state government by the then Governor Pratibha Patil.