25.5.11

Leave Indian Muslims out of this

I have already stated my views on the Headley deposition. It is turning out to be even more bizarre. Here are portions from a report that needs to be ripped apart:

Headley and Rana even debated who should declare jihad, whether a head of an Islamic state, as Rana believed, or someone else. Headley explained that a head of state was necessary only if it was to be “offensive” jihad, but for “defensive” jihad of the kind currently underway it was not necessary.

Was this some coffee-shop discussion? Were they not working for a terrorist outfit or were they important enough blokes to debate about such decisions? If the LeT is involved it does not need to specifically declare a jihad. It is not like you say, “Lights! Camera! Action!” and the cameras will roll. And what exactly does ‘head of an Islamic state’ mean? Surely, they did not imagine Saudi Arabia would chip in with the clapper board? If the ISI has to be implicated, there are better ways to do it.

How does Headley become an expert? If we see this as just a terrorist plan pushing for a holy war, then the concept of offense and defence does not arise. The believers assume it is in the defence of the religion.

Another striking disclosure that Headley made relates to the 2002 Muslim massacre in Gujarat in the aftermath of the killings of 50 Hindu pilgrims at Godhra. In fact, he said the massacre was one of the triggers for him personally to get involved in 26/11. He said between 2002 and 2007, the LeT had received hundreds of letters from Muslims in Gujarat seeking help. He even referred to an undercover video recording of a Hindu activist called Babu Bajrangi who had bragged about personally having killed Muslims.

What is so striking about this disclosure? Everyone who carries out such acts will use their co-religionists. These are dubious claims and if Headley was so concerned about Gujarat why did he want to get his dream launch in Kashmir? This is devious in the extreme because Indian Muslims have not turned to Pakistan to help them in any crisis. Here we have Narendra Modi boasting about how Muslims in his state are doing so well. He should be the one contradicting such statements.

There is no need for undercover videos when our national leaders have made their biases clear. But, a large segment of the population is not taken in by this. The LeT is not interested in helping out Indian Muslims or any Muslims for that matter. Terrorists are killing Muslims in Pakistan. And they will not wait for over six years to strike when they do have the ability to infiltrate and the arsenal to carry out attacks.

It is utter hogwash to involve the Indian Muslim population. As it is they go on a guilt trip each time some Islamist is behind attacks. I don’t find Hindus feeling guilty or taking out morchas because of Malegaon or Bhiwandi or Babri. And they absolutely do not have to. But Muslims, with their so-called well-wishers, will wear those starched kurtas and skull caps and parade like puppets.

For an illiterate and backward community Indian Muslims are certainly being accused of too much letter-writing. After the Bombay riots, they said that Dawood Ibrahim carried out the March blasts because the Muslims wrote to him. He cannot even protect his brother, so how will he protect the community?

11 comments:

  1. Farzana:

    Did you ever consider law as the profession?

    Your arguments are impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Point-to-point rebuttal (I love doing this!!):

    "How does Headley become an expert?"

    He is not, but so isn't a Mullah. Why do Muslims go to Mullahs for 'Islamic' opinions? Since Islam does not have a priest class, everyone should be free to make decisions for themselves. Isn't the concept of Fatwa itself unislamic? Who is educating the community about this?
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    "Narendra Modi (is) boasting about how Muslims in his state are doing so well."

    Is he the only one? Everybody from Mulayam to Maya to Nitish to Sheila to YSR have put out ads with pictures of hizbi women to show how their govts care for Muslims! Why are you singling out Modi, if not as a mere reflex action born out of a virulent bias?
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    "(Indian Muslims) go on a guilt trip each time some Islamist is behind attacks. I don’t find Hindus feeling guilty or taking out morchas because of Malegaon or Bhiwandi or Babri. And they absolutely do not have to."

    Who has asked Muslims to do this? I do not feel guilty about Sadhvi being arrested because I have never subscribed to her vision of Hinduism. But (I am convinced) that the Indian Muslims do not disagree too much with Osama's Islamic vision of the world. It is only when they feel they will be paying a personal price for it that they get together at Azad Maidan with 'secular' banners. I am still waiting for Bukhari or Deoband to issue a fatwa saying a convert out of Islam can not be killed. I am willing to put in a written question myself but they will not answer a non-Muslim! It is perhaps haram to answer leading questions by kafirs!

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  3. Anon:

    No, not really, because I'd have fought against my own arguments!

    Thank you.

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  4. F&F:

    This is hardly a rebuttal.

    Headley was a novice not an expert to be given such power by a terrorist organisation. It has nothing to do with mullahs and although I don't think they need to be consulted, for whatever it is worth they have some knowledge.

    It is a pity you cannot ask them questions but am sure Swami Ramdev can help.

    Re. Modi, Headley mentioned Gujarat, not Timbuktoo, so check your own biases before pointing fingers.

    And yes when someone is killed for converting out of Islam in India, do talk about it. Until then why don't you find out how Rizwan was killed for marrying a Hindu girl and her father got away without being made answerable?

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  5. Fight against your own arguments. I wish, I could be that fly on the wall.

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  6. Farzana,
    Am jumping in this "debate" for certain responses that I find myself strongly dis-agreeing with and just plain revulsing . This *is not* I repeat *is not* (double emphasis added for your blog visitors who might mistake me to be your "cohort") in your defence. You are too strong for it.
    Moving on to the response.....
    F & F said ....
    "But (I am convinced) that the Indian Muslims do not disagree too much with Osama's Islamic vision of the world. It is only when they feel they will be paying a personal price for it that they get together at Azad Maidan with 'secular' banners."
    Wonderful. A little curious - do we understand at all that Osama's brand of "Islamic Vision" does expect a very very hefty personal price by followers - his infatuation with "Herbal Viagra" notwithstanding . Do we even realise the kind of situation India will be in if it's largest minority were to follow his brand of Islam ?
    BTW, since you mentioned Modi somewhere - let us you try building and selling Modi's brand of Hinduism. Get back to me if you ever succeed.
    - Mahesh.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mahesh,

    Thanks for the reply. I have neither defended nor propogated Modi's "brand" of Hinduism. I have my own and I am quite happy with it. It is some others who are trying to make Modi into some kind of a "branded" monster with fangs! Hope you have some advice for them too!

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  8. FV,

    I am touched to see your new-found faith in the teritorial boundaries of (Indian!) Islam. I hope hereafter you will be neutral about the so called "War on Islam" by the west since most of it is being fought outside India! These issues just don't matter to WE INDIANS after all (Smiley)!!

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  9. Mahesh:

    No worries about anyone thinking about you being a "cohort" given the number of disagreements we've had. And I think it's time for me to get some comrade-type support too (ifyoukbowwhatimean)!

    Re. Osama, let us not forget that there were other extremist movements before him. I guess if Indians were to follow his brand, then Ayurveda would be even more popular.

    PS: Hope you had a good Jumma to prepare you for a great weekend :)

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  10. F&F:

    What is new-found about the demarcation I make between IMs and others? Honestly, if you do not know don't just jump to conclusions with inadequate information.

    I am glad you have been touched, but the logic is still quite dheela. Will you stop worrying about whether women can wear bikinis in Saudi Arabia since Goa etc are there for WE INDIANS?

    To answer you more directly, no, I will not stop discussing the "War on terror" (do they say Islam?) because I don't wear blinkers. It's like saying why bother about global warming as long as your aircon is cool and these days even swings as you move.

    PS: I notice the smiley has replaced 'language'. Good.

    Anon:

    I believe walls have sharper ears than flies.

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  11. FV,

    If Saudi Arabian women start strutting around in bikinis, I can not but throw off my "blinkers" and get a better view! Until then, let them know that my blinkers serve them the same way as do their veils. And without suffocating them!

    ReplyDelete

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