By Syed Ali Mujtaba,
The conspiracy of silence among the political parties of UP regarding Hashimpura judgement that has acquitted the accused for want of evidence is intriguing. More intriguing is the silence of the social activists and intellectuals barring a few. There is hardly any reaction from the left parties on this issue. The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have joined hands with the perpetrators of the Hashimpura crime. By maintaining silence, they have given a clean chit to them.This is disgusting.
How can they claim to be well-wishers of the minority community? If not for the Muslims, they could at least have spoken for the sake of humanity.
The fact remains, that the cold blooded murder has taken. The murderers have been acquitted by the court. There is no dismay no protest on this. It appears everything is being brushed under the carpet because the victims happen to be Muslims. This face of Indian democracy is never being debated in the media. The social media too turns a blind eye.
Everyone knows the culprits were the members of the Provincial Armed Constabulary PAC. There is huge material evidence to establish the identity of the murderers. All what is needed was to produce the duty chart of the constables that were on duty and had committed the heinous crime. There is nothing to absolve the people responsible for the crime. All what is needed was a speedy trail to nail the criminals. This never happened.
The judicial system allows the process to be dragged on for 28 years. In the end it dishes out botched up judgment, letting down the victims who had high hopes. This is travesty of justice in every sense.
In contrast to this take the cases like Mumbai bomb blast, Parliament attack, Mumbai attack, in all of them, the trail was speedy and the accused were nailed.
However, when it comes to the victims of communal riots like Hashimpura, the judiciary turns blind eye towards delivering a fair judgment. The trial goes on indefinitely to tire the aggrieved party to lose interest in the case. This gives them a handle o side with the accused and let them go for want of evidence.
Does, the judiciary wants the victims to dedicate their life for getting a fair judgment. The fact remains that they have trusted the judiciary for impartial judgment as being aggrieved party. However, such trust let down and proved to be based on false hopes and high promises. What does all this points out? Very simple, laws are meant for punishing the weak, those who are mighty, law remains a smoke screen to them.
The judicial system of the country has lost its face by this judgment. The faith of the minority community has defiantly been shaken by this judgment. There should be fresh investigation for the Hashimpura carnage. Leaders of political parties must demand re-probe in this cold blooded carnage.
While those responsible for Mumbai blast of 1990 have been booked, the culprits of Hashimpura massacre could not be booked for want of evidence. While Nirbhya case disposed in a year or so, Ajmal Kasab is hanged in smaller trial span, the Hashimpura case has lingered on for 28 years.
Who is responsible for the delay in this case the government or the judiciary? Justice delayed is justice denied and that has happened in this case. When the 19984 riots can be probed and re probed, why the culprits of the Hashimpura massacre left off the hook.
It’s blot on India’s democracy that the murders of Hashimpura are let out for want of evidence. There is hardly any hue and cry, local and international pressure being built for re-probe. The evidences are abundant, it needs to be pieced together and brought for the judicial scrutiny. Re-probe of Hashimpura carnage alone can instil confidence among the minority community in the country.
(Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai.)