By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Muslims are not taking seriously the Congress party’s apology for the demolition of the Babri Masjid, saying the move is just a political gimmick, and has been taken to appease the community as the party needs their vote in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Saturday in Lucknow had apologized for the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. The party was in power at the centre but could not do anything to protect the 15th century mosque. “We would once again like to say sorry to the nation for the demolition of the Babri Masjid as at that time the P.V. Narasimha Rao led-Congress was in power (at the centre),” said Singh, party general secretary and in-charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh, while addressing a rally organized by the minority cell of the party.
TCN Delhi went to the town to get the views of common Muslims about the Congress apology. Hardly any of those we talked was ready to accept the party is sincere in its apology. They say the statement is just to appease Muslims and get their votes.
Muhammad Ahmad, a businessman in the vicinity of Jama Masjid, says: There is no question of accepting their apology. If we do so, they will repeat the crime again and again and will offer apology. Their statement is just a political gimmick.
He further says that no party is true sympathizer to Muslims. “But as we have no options, we will be supporting the Congress in the elections. But we demand the Congress to ensure we get our rights and our personal laws are preserved,” he said.
Muhammad Yosuf, who works for a Hindi weekly in Jamia Nagar, says: There is no sense of guilt behind the Congress apology. It is just a political gimmick. The statement is just to appease Muslims and get their votes. Around election times, Congress speaks on issues like Babri Masjid demolition or backwardness of Muslims. But they are never sincere in what they say. The Congress is not honest in its apology for the demolition of the Babri Masjid as never in the history the party has been well wisher of the Muslims.
“The present Congress government at the centre completed its term but they did not take any step against those who demolished the mosque. The case is going at snail’s pace as ever. What is interesting is that the man who was in the forefront of the demolition movement, is now prime ministerial candidate, and is taking on the Congress.”
However, some are ready to forgive only if the party is sincere, but admit it is difficult to trust politicians.
Badruddin Ahmad, also of Jama Masjid area, says: If they have offered apology sincerely, not for political gains, they should be forgiven. But it is very difficult to believe they are sincere in their apology because politicians can hardly be trusted. We cannot take the Congress leader’s statement seriously as the party has lost its credibility by speaking lies again and again.
Zainul Abedin, a property dealer in Jamia Nagar says: Muslims should forgive the Congress if they are sincerely apologizing for the demolition of the Babri Masjid. “If I slap a Congress leader and offer my apology for it, I would expect he would forgive me,” says Abedin.