By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net
Mumbai: ‘If the Maharashtra ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi is not removed we will stage a similar dharna at his residence,’ said Abdul Hameed Azhari, the convener of the dharna called by Kul Jamati Tanzeem of Malegaon in Mumbai with co-ordination of 39 NGOs.
Had the government paid heed to the demands put forward by secular non-Muslim NGOs after Nanded blasts, the subsequent blasts would have been averted, the protestors said.
The removal of new ATS chief Raghuvanshi was on top of the demands of protestors who shouted slogans like ‘Raghuvanshi Hatao, Maharashtra Bachao’ (Remove Raghuvanshi and save Maharashtra), ‘Begunahon Ko Azad Karo’ (Set free the innocents) and ‘Hamen Bheek Naheen Chahiye Hamen Insaf Chahiye’ (We do not want charity rather we want justice)
Raghuvanshi is alleged to be responsible for wrong implication of Muslim youths in blasts while ignoring the real culprits when he was on the same post as now before Hemant Karkare. Jalna, Parbhani and Malegaon Shab-e-Barat blasts etc. had occurred at Muslim worship places and naturally only Muslims were the victims, yet 59 Muslim youths were arrested in connection with the blasts from throughout Maharashtra.
Abdul Hameed Azhari revealed that they had called a meeting of all the Muslim MLAs yesterday to ponder over the issue. ‘Though all had promised to attend none but Nawab Malik was present.’
He also accused the state government of being reluctant regarding fair investigation of the blasts, adding that ‘Sonia Gandhi was ready for CBI inquiry of the blasts before the chargesheet by ATS was filed.’
Abu Asim Azmi of Samajwadi Party criticizing the probe of Malegaon 2008 blasts said that the Sadhvi Pragya’s aid Chauhan was arrested by Delhi police for attacking churches and priests and not by the Maharashtra ATS.
‘How tragic is it that we have to stage a dharna for a secular IPS officer’s appointment as ATS chief instead of Raghuvanshi?’ exclaimed Maulana Azeezullah of Tahafuuze Naboowat.
That the Malegaon blasts victims were given a compensation of mere one lakh, they said, was unfair. ‘The victims of riots and blasts in other parts of the country were given 5-7 lakh compensation, therefore, the Malegaon blasts victims too should be provided with the same,’ they demanded.
The protestors put five demands before the chief minister through a memorandum:
(1) The government should investigate the elements who are the real terrorists and enemies of the idea of secularism and democracy.
(2) The government should formulate a legal framework to release all the 59 innocent accused of various bomb blasts and arms haul cases in the state of Maharashtra
(3) The relatives of Malegaon blast victims should be given 7 lakh rupees each as have been the case in rest of the country.
(4) The Malegaon General Hospital should be dedicated to those who died in the bomb blasts and thus be christened ‘Shuhada-e-Bomb Blast Aspatal.
(5) K P Raghuvanshi should be immediately removed from the post of ATS chief. A sincere, secular and upright officer must be assigned the job of ATS.
On September 8, 2006 Malegaon was shattered with a series of blasts at Bada Qabrastan and Mushawarat Chowk on the day of Shab-e-Barat. The explosions claimed 31 lives and injured more than 250 persons and were attributed to some alleged SIMI outfit. The ATS arrested nine Muslim youths and imposed MCOCA on them.
Malegaon Kul Jamati Tanzeem (All Sect Organisation) was formed after the Malegaon 2006 blasts. The basic purpose of forming such an organization was to make sure that the real terrorists are exposed and innocent people are not harassed and arrested in the name of religion.