People's Democracy

Is It A Crime To Be A Muslim In Mumbai?

RAISING an issue of public importance in the Rajya Sabha on August 11, Brinda Karat pointedly asked the government “Is it a crime to be a Muslim in Mumbai?” She referred to various reports that any and every Muslim who had traveled abroad was being called to police stations, interrogated etc. She demanded that the government come out with a statement on the issue. Since the House was disrupted on a different matter shortly after her question, the home minister escaped having to give a reply. 

The following letter was also written to the home minister, Shivraj Patil:

Today in the Rajya Sabha, with the permission of the chair I had raised the issue of targeting of the Muslim community in Mumbai in the wake of the bomb blasts. The House was adjourned on another issue after my intervention so the minister for state for home affairs who was present was not able to give any reply. I therefore request you to kindly address the issues I have raised on the floor of the House. 

The entire House with one voice condemned the heinous act of terrorists and their backers responsible for the Mumbai blasts and urged the government to identify, arrest and punish all those responsible. Any leads that the innvestigation agencies may have must be followed without giving quarter to anyone involved. But it is indeed a sad day for India’s secular values when the Mumbai police flags and targets all Muslims who have traveled abroad for the sole reason that they are Muslims. For example the vice-president of a multi-national company and a well known dance choreographer were forced to suffer the humiliation and indignity of having their homes visited by the police, being asked to appear at the thana, having their relatives and staff interrogated. There is a feeling of fear among the community because of indiscriminate picking up of Muslims in the city. It is as though the onus of proving themselves innocent has been shifted to a whole community. This is unacceptable and CPI(M) strongly protests against it.

In spite of being repeatedly asked who has issued the directive under which the Mumbai police has acted, the state authorities have been evasive. It is reported in the press (Asian Age August 9, 2006) that the deputy chief minister has mentioned that he has “received instructions from the national security adviser M K Narayanan to further beef up security in the city for independence day.” Whether this is linked to the Mumbai police actions was an issue which I had requested clarifications in the House.

You will appreciate that the actions of the Mumbai police have wide repercussions and implications which are not helpful to prevent vested interests who want to divide people in the name of religion. I would be grateful if you could kindly respond to the concerns I have raised and to prevent their further recurrence.

The following day the Maharashtra deputy chief minister contacted Brinda Karat and informed her that there was no such directive and that “all persons Hindu or Muslim are being questioned who had traveled abroad in this period.” When it was pointed out that even among the film crew consisting of 30 persons who had gone to Dubai only the single Muslim in the group, a well known dance choreographer, had been questioned he had no answer. He said that the police commissioner would be asked to issue a clarification. The union home minister has also given a similar reply.(INN)