‘The Congress Is No Longer A Secular Party’

The Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari tells SHOBHITA NAITHANI why Muslims need a political party of their own

Photo: SHAILENDRA PANDEY

What will the mass campaign that you are threatening against the government entail?
There should be an end to the arrests of innocent people and a judicial commission should be formed because people don’t trust the police anymore. If the government doesn’t pay heed to our demands, we will hold a massive rally against them in February 2009. We want to expose the injustice of a party that has been asking us for votes by scaring us about the BJP. The Congress is no different from the BJP.

You are unhappy with the Congress. Yet, you don’t hesitate in sharing the platform with their ally, the Samajwadi Party (SP)?
It is wrong to read it like that. Whether it is the SP, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Congress or any other party, their attitude towards Muslims is the same. They are bigoted. They are all scheming to get the support of Muslims. We are with nobody and nobody is with us. I have always maintained that the Muslims of India need to gather political power. Otherwise, like a football, we will continue to be kicked from one goalpost to another. This country only respects those who have political strength. Once Muslims have that, they will be in a position not only to ask for their rights but also grab it.

There are already so many parties in the country. How will the formation of one more change things?
Dalits have the BSP. Hindus have the BJP. Congress is also a Hindu party. It is not secular. For the last 60 years, we have supported Hindu leaders and their parties. But when they haven’t given back anything to us, what option do we have?

Maulana Arshad Madani, who heads a faction of the Jamait Ulema-e-Hind, wants a TV channel for ‘neutral’ coverage of terror incidents. You talk of an independent party. Won’t that further isolate the community?
It’s these so-called secular parties that have isolated the community for the last 60 years. Muslims have been beaten, burnt and their businesses destroyed. We got nothing from these governments. We have decided to unite and seize power because of this perpetual segregation.

You accuse the government of communal polarisation. How different are you if you talk of a political party?
We have no choice. We’ve been pushed to the corner and are now being driven up the wall. Now Muslims are being charged with terrorism. Are they saying that we are revolting against the country? This is the limit. We have to strengthen ourselves and teach those accusing us of terrorism a lesson. We are not against Hindus. Our loyalty lies with the country. But we are against the government.

As an important religious figure, why aren’t you establishing the distinction between Islam and terrorism?
I’ve always said that there is no connection between Islam and terrorism. We will by no means back a terrorist. Did we ever speak up for Muslims involved in the 1993 serial bomb blast case? Is it not the government’s responsibility to give education, employment, justice and security to its people? Terrorism takes birth when there is inequality and injustice. That’s what happened in Kashmir. I spoke to Hizbul Mujahadeen chief Syed Salahuddin. I requested him for peace in Kashmir. He took to violence because of the injustice done to him. The government will have to end this inequality, otherwise the youth will take to the streets.