By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: While Assembly election is in sight and BJP-Shiv Sena in tatters, the ‘secular’ Congress-NCP alliance government of Maharashtra wants to appease the voters of the communal parties. The state government’s withdrawal of the ongoing CBI probe in the Hari Masjid police firing case is the latest evidence of the Hindu appeasement of the ‘secular’ parties.
The firing took place during the 1992-1993 communal riots in Mumbai. Police sub-inspector Nikhil Kapse was indicted by the Srikrishna Commission for unjustified firing at devotees inside the Hari Masjid in Wadala. Six people were killed in the firing.
After years of refusing to take action against Inspector Kapse, the Congress-NCP government finally gave in to the public pressure and snubs from the Mumbai High Court, and agreed to hand over the Hari Masjid case to the CBI in 2008.
While the probe was going on in full swing the state government two weeks ago approached the Supreme Court to get a stay against the CBI investigation. The apex court has granted the stay.
Media reports say that the government has submitted before the Supreme Court that the “state has already initiated all essential action against Nikhil Kapse and there is no need for an independent enquiry” as he has already been given a clean chit.
Human rights activists and surviving victim of the Hari Masjid firing today addressed media in Mumbai and demanded the state government to reverse its move otherwise they will be forced to launch public agitation on the issue.
Talking to TwoCircles.net Muhammad Aslam Ghazi, Member, Maharashtra unit of Association for Protection of Civil Rights, said the state government seemed to consolidate Hindu votes by this action.
“The state government seems to be confused. For years it did not take action on the case. When pressure was mounted from public as well as court it ordered CBI probe. Now reversing its own decision it approached the Supreme Court for seeking stay on the CBI probe. The move seems to consolidate the non-Muslim votes,” Ghazi said.
In the press confernce Ghazi demanded the state government to allow CBI to continue its probe.
He said he and other human rights activists will launch mass awareness campaign to highlight the double standard of the state government. As last resort they are also planning to approach the apex court.
[Photo: images.google.co.in]