Twenty years down, Syed
Shahabuddin looks back. Convener, Babari Masjid Movement
Coordination Committee 18 questions answered
Dec 06, 2012 | Closed
Did the Babri Masjid
demolition shake the Indian Muslims' faith in the ability of the State to
protect the lives and rights of its citizens?
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Q: What was wrong in the demolition of Babri Masjid as it was
constructed on Lord Rama Temple? Asked by: Arjun Singh
A: I wish it could be proved. The HC
got the place excavated and no trace of the temple was found. You can't say
something without proving it. I have said these right outside Deoband that if
it is proven that Muslims brought down a temple and built a mosque, it is not a
masjid and I will bring it down personally. In Ayodhya there are dozens of
places where people say Ram was born.
Q: Is it not that a long time has
passed and the concept of revisiting Dec 6 should stop. Eminent people like you
should motivate younger generation towards productive things like education and
employment. These things build the nation whereas "Dec 6" creates ill
will. Your views please Asked by: Kumar Ajay
A: I have been trying to educate the
Muslim youths from the beginning that the answer to babri masjid is not
violence. I have called on them to disist from taking out processions and to
escalate tensions.
Q: The incidents like the one of Babri
Masjid,godhraa,Mumbai serial blast,26/11 ( mumbai ) create a fear amongst the
citizens,irrespective of the religion and also the limitations of the state in
protecting its citizen.Do you relate it to Intelligence failure ?? Asked by: sundar1950in
A:
There is no doubt in my mind that Babri masjid was not a case of intelliugence
failure but govt's inaction based on intelligence. But in the other cases, yes.
Q: Is minority phobia the binding force
for the unity of India? Asked by: Faisal Mahboob
A: I
don't think so but a Muslim phobia is slowly entering our veins. The majority
of Hindus are tolerant but a few bad apples can spoil the atmosphere. RSS has
always tried to push people into positions of power. But people including
Hindus, and specially them, have resisted such attempts.
Q: People
from minorities section are reaching the highest positions,one example,MMS. The
trend has picked up in the last decade more than before.Yes aberrations
happen,but why cant we move ahead? Asked by: Kamal Agg
A:The
point is not about individuals. There have been Muslim President,
Vice-President, cabinet secretary. Indira Gandhi asked IK Gujral to find out
how many Muslims were there in his dept. They were just a handful though two of
the top guys were Muslims.
Q: Hello Sir, For Indian Muslims, is
Roti, Kapada & Makaan is important or being strict religious is important
?. I am asking this question with a view in my mind. India has got Independence
in 1947 & from the day # 1 Congress claims it is "Secular". What
is your honest view on this ?. Don't you think just to keep BJP away from
power, Indian Muslims by and large ignore the development politics and stay in
emotive world and thereby vote to "so-called" Secular parties which
use Muslims as vote banks ?. Asked by: aditya.yanamand
A: This
is a complex question. For every citizen, roti kapda makan is important, so it
is for Indian Muslims. I think Partition was disastrous and a great tragedy for
Indian Muslims. Today, my friends in Pakistan are saying the same. If our
country was not divided, they would be better off. Every political party in our
present system uses every minority as votebank. This is common. As far as
secularism is concerned, even BJP claims it is secular. Secularism means the
State can not prefer one side to other on the basis of religion, community or
caste.
Q: Sir,suppose the Sc supports the high
courts judgement,As far as I understand,you can not give away or barter waqf
land on religious grounds(shariyat law).If yes then what? Asked by: Kamal
Agg
A: We
insist that whatever is the judicial decision, we will. Let there be no doubt
about that.
Q: Why is it that in such conflicts
both parties take a hard stand and a spirit of give & taake does not
happen.??Is it the politicians or the religious leaders who should take the
blame for this ?? Asked by: sundar1950in
A: It
was not a religious matter. It was a legal issue. The Muslim leadership only
said that. We just said that on our own, we won;t give an inch of the masjid
land, the area of actual worship. The court can but as Muslims can't do this of
their own will
Q: Why one community gets worked up on
demolition of a disputed structure and none from them say a word when thousands
of members of other community from Kashmir are forced to leave their homes???
Why is a structure built on land important than human beings? Asked by: A
NATIONALIST INDIAN
A: I
am perhaps the only Muslim leader who visited Kashmiri refugees. But the
demolition of a place of worship can't be compared to this.
Q:Do you agree both with the
observation as well as the recommendation of Sachar committee? Asked by: Faisal
Mahboob
A:
I had many sessions with the committee. There are certain things I do not agree
with. Some things must change for sure. We have been talking about
reservations. You measure a backward community and see what can be done. Quota
is a tool which can be used to ensure equity.
Q: Sir, after all these years, do u
still believe that the issue will be resolved and we will get justice?? Asked
by: Anonymous
A: I
have no doubt except you need patience and tolerance. We trust our judiciary.
Q: Do we need sharp and pointed
legislation against religious discrimination? Asked by: Faisal Mahboob
A: We
have a UN law and convention against religious discrimination. Minority rights
are established norms across the world. As member of UN, India has voted and
accepted them. There is no need for separate legislation and our Constitution
is extremely modern and progressive in that regard.
Q: Hello Sir, I temporarily live in the
US. I visited Europe. In this part of the world, Muslims fear to show their
identities like for example they don't wear veil or i hardly see Muslims with
beard & without Mustache like they do in India. In that sense, don't you
think Indian majority people are open minded and don't you think instead of
telling that you are a Muslim, we have to live together in India ?. Asked by: aditya.yanamand
A: We
all believe now in freedom and whenever there is a conflict of social nature,
it's important to grant freedom. It is the only way to resolve such conflicts.
Q: Why cant we think of aving a
university, hospital etc at the site.?This indeed would be a true pace of
worship which would benifit all of us specially the poorer of the poor. I am
sure the god almighty be it Ram, Allah, Christ or any oythe would be very happy
and bless all of us. Asked by: Arun
A: In
India, we are not short of land but why at the cost of a masjid? It is a place
of worship. How can you take it away? Moreover, the Hinduvta forces do not want
that.
Q: Don't you think that the life of
minorities in India is much better than that of minorities in Pakistan? Asked
by: Shyam Vadalker
A: I
do not wish to make any comparison. We are Indians under a democracy and we
have the Indian Constitution. Pakistan does not have these benefits. In my
opinion, this is not a relevant thing. We have to better ourselves. The govt
has not used tanks or big guns in Kashmir like the Chinese and Russians have
done. Though Muslims have suffered in India, today they are better off than
they were twenty years back.
Q: Don't you think that communal
elements in both communities are trying to use this issue and polarising the
people of this country? Asked by: Nasir
A: This
is right but on this issue, Muslims have not been communal. When the doors have
been opened, we requested the matter to be handed over to the court. But the
other side resorted to yatras, bhashans etc. But it's good majority of India
does not think that way.
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