Muslim organisations have strongly condemned the terror attacks that devastated Mumbai on July 13. However, there is also a note of caution in their statements: Crack down on terror, find the culprits but guard against hasty conclusions and ensure that no innocent citizen is picked up just to claim a breakthrough.
The Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Association (JTSA) hoped that the “perpetrators of this mindless violence will be brought to justice swiftly.” But it also expressed unease at the freewheeling speculation on the identities of the perpetrators. The organisation said that although the Union Home Ministry had acted with responsibly and avoided premature statements, a lot of names had been tossed about in the media.
The JTSA pointed in particular to the naming of Mohammad Salman from Azamgarh in sections of the media as a suspect. This was done by placing reliance on Mr. Salman's alleged interrogation report in the 2008 Delhi blasts case, whereas the truth was that he had been discharged in the case even before the start of the trial.
The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind called Wednesday's blasts an act of desperation by a handful of destructive elements. General secretary Syed Mahmood Madani expressed sorrow at the loss of lives and appealed to welfare organisations of every community to help the families of the dead as well as those injured.
At the same time, he objected to media speculation and questioned the naming of organisations and people without proper authentication and evidence.
Mr. Madani also wondered why the ambit of investigation did not extend to Hindutva forces. He said harassment of innocent Muslims would heighten social tensions and destabilise the peace and security of the country which was the main objective of the perpetrators.
“Sinister design”
Chennai Special Correspondent writes:
The Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought among Muslims has strongly condemned the blasts and denounced the sinister designs underlying the cult of violence.
In a statement, A. Faizur Rahman, secretary-general of the forum, said his organisation urged concerned citizens to come together and use all their combined skills to find a common language of harmony and unite the country with a new inclusive vision of peace and brotherhood.
The Forum called upon the Union government to conduct a thorough investigation into the dastardly act of terror and bring all those who were behind it to swift justice.
