By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chauhna on Tuesday sought help from Urdu press in maintaining peace in the state in view of the coming festivals. Urdu editors assured him of cooperation, but also apprised him of the minority witch-hunt by police in the wake of the Azad Maidan violence as police are said to be preparing list of the people who took part in the Saturday protest against killings in Assam and Myanmar.
The CM called on the editors and journalists of Urdu newspapers in Shayadri, Malabar Hill on Tuesday. He condemned the violence of Saturday and asked their help to spread communal amity and not to help those forces who are trying to communalize the situation in Maharashtra ahead of Eid and Ganesh Chaturthi.
Saeed Ahmed and Aziz Ejaz (Urdu Times), Shahid Latif and Abdul Hai (Inquilab), Saeed Hamid (Roznama Sahara), Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi (Sahafat), Sarfaraz Arzoo (Hindustan Urdu), and Mohammed Wajihuddin (Times of India) met the CM and the officers of Maharashtra Government.
Chauhan agreed with the aim of the agitation held on Saturday and appreciated the role of Police who controlled the violence with minimum damage. He said, “We informed the state government of Assam and the Union Government of India about the community’s feeling regarding Assam and Burma.” “We are also doing an inquiry whether the incidents was pre planned” Chauhan added.
Editors of Urdu newspapers complained that the violent pictures and visuals spread on facebook and other social networking sites were misleading and false. And government should have taken note of them and must have acted. Chauhan told them that it’s the responsibility of the Union government and we have informed them.
Sarfaraz Arzoo, editor of Hindustan Urdu daily in the beginning said, “Youths arrested are in the age group of 17 to 20 years, they are criminals. They need counseling not punishment.”
Reminding the CM of the incident of Meenatai Thackrey statue, Saeed Hamid, resident editor of Rashtriya Sahara Mumbai said, “At that time the Shiv Sainiks not only attacked the Police but also burnt their houses but no case was imposed on them.”
Urdu Editors also protested against the imposition of section 302 on the mob. They said, “Two Muslim youths died in the police firing, so imposition of this provision is totally unjustified.”
They also complained that the Police are preparing the list of people who were ferried to Azad Maidan in buses and trucks and are planning to arrest them which is not correct.”
Ahead of festivals in Maharashtra, Chauhan appealed to the leaders of different communities and the Urdu newspapers to maintain peace and harmony. “We have a challenge to make the festival season in Maharashtra peaceful. Government and Police department need your help to make it peaceful” he added.
Urdu editors offered their complete co-operation to maintain peace in the state.