Dr. J. S. Bandukwala on Maulana Wastanvi and Deoband

Dr. J. S. Bandukwala on Maulana Wastanvi and Deoband

Dear Sultan Shahin Sahab,

I have read three articles carried by New Age Islam, pertaining to Maulana Vastanvi and Darul Ulum, Deoband. Please carry my views on the said subject on your site.

Maulana Vastanvi is an eminent Maulana cum educationist. He has a vast educational network, which is admirable. The national controversy arose following his appointment as a Vice Chancellor at Deoband.  The original interview he gave to Times of India, called on Muslims to forget and move away from the 2002 riots, and take advantage of the development process in Gujarat. In particular he mentioned that there is no discrimination against Muslims in Modi's Gujarat. This statement was totally wrong on facts and could cause great damage to Muslims, particularly in Gujarat.

Narendra Modi established his political grip on Gujarat, through the frightening riots of 2002. The communal polarisation within Gujarat, following this tragedy is almost total. Even the CBI , in its report to the Supreme Court has admitted that it is an ugly situation, with anti Muslim bias running deep within the police , the judiciary and the prosecution. As such it is impossible to get a fair trial in Gujarat. No wonder justice has prevailed only in the Best Bakery and the Bilkis Banu cases, where the Supreme Court transferred the cases to Maharashtra.

Modi is desperate that the focus moves away from the 2002 killings.  Most accused are senior figures in the Modi administration and party, and widely accepted as blued eyed boys of Modi. Further the stigma of mass killings has prevented his visiting most Western countries. Most vital, it has blocked his desire to become Prime Minister. This has led to two approaches, one a projection that he is a great development man, and two, his desire to find acceptance among Muslim leaders. Gujaratis are an entrepreneur community. Business and industry is in their blood, whether Hindus or Muslims. But what Modi is doing can only be called sham development. An example is Tata Motors being offered financial and other resources to the tune of tens of thousands of crores. The amount is to be repaid at an interest of less than 1 %, with re payment to start after 20 years.  No wonder the Tatas, the Mittals and the Ambanis want Modi as a Prime Minister, for he plays Santa Claus with Gujarat finances. On the other hand, Modi has refused to implement the pre matric scholarship scheme of the Central Government, as it required a State contribution of barely 1.5 crores. About 57000 poor minority students would have benefitted Is this not gross discrimination against Muslims?

From the Muslim side we have repeatedly offered Modi, as well as leading intellectuals, industrialists and even godmen, to at least introspect and express remorse for what occurred in 2002. We have even offered that once you say sorry in public, we will forgive you, because Allah is Gufuurur Rahim. There is no response. Rather they have gone out of their way to make life difficult for the victims of 2002. The 87 POTA detenues from Godhra are in jail for the last nine years. They cannot get out. But Babu Bhajrangi, a VHP history sheeter, openly admitted on Tehelka, that he had cut the pregnant Kausarbanu's stomach to kill her and snatch out her unborn child. He even had the audacity to say that after their killings he felt he had become Rana Pratap. This killer has not spent a single day in jail. His bail was granted by Justice Mehta, (to the eternal shame of the Gujarat High Court) This learned, but immoral judge went on to become a member of the Modi appointed Nanavati Commission that is examining the 2002 riots.

I am conscious that rich and ambitious Muslims are desperate that we should close the chapter on the tragedy of 2002, and welcome Modi. But can we give up without justice and without a word of remorse and sorrow for what happened to thousands of our women and the poor .Rather I am convinced that there is no other way to prevent future  communal killings of Muslims, then to punish the murderers of 2002.  Once Amit Shah and Vanzara are sentenced to life imprisonment, no future Home Minister or senior police officer will ever connive in killing Muslims. At one time we thought political parties will protect us. That has been a mirage. Lalu Prasad and the CPM prevented riots in Bihar and West Bengal, but they did nothing to improve the socio economic state of our community. The less said about the Congress the better, for in 2002 they played the B team of the BJP.

Finally there is a deliberate attempt to confuse the issues, by projecting the Vastanvi affair as a fight among the ulemas of Deoband. The objective has been to move the focus away from the original pro Modi remarks of Vastanvi. Sadly the national media has played its role in blurring the links between Vastanvi and Modi. Needless to say I condemn this effort. The victims of 2002 deserve better.

Sincerely Yours,

J.S.Bandukwala

Vadodara, Gujarat

1 February 2011 13:02

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J. S. Bandukwala is Viec-President, People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamLetters_1.aspx?ArticleID=4037

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