Muslim Shiv Sena in Hyderabad By Irfan Engineer

Taslima Nasreen was recently attacked in Hyderabad by members of Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen (MIM), a political party, and a coalition partner in UPA. The attackers included three MLAs of MIM. They justified their attack on Taslima Nasreen by telling the media that Ms. Nasreen's writings in the past were blasphemous and anti-Islamic and that they were acting according to a fatwa. I seriously doubt if any of the attackers had read what they claimed were blasphemous statements. None of the media representatives who were covering the event and interviewing the attackers thought of asking whether they had read what Ms. Narsreen had written. If asked, the attackers would have utterly failed in pointing out which words, paras or pages were considered offensive by them. Such attacks, whether by VHP cadres, or cadres of MIM or other organizations who have taken to moral policing, are always done for the sake of publicity, political expediency or popularity. Willing sections from media lend a helping hand to the conspirators, instigators and abettors of such attacks gain popularity.

Media should by all means cover such attacks but instead of giving the attackers opportunity to justify their attacks by asking them, "why did you attack?", they should confront the attackers with questions to probe as to who mobilized them, whether the attacker was self motivated or was it on hearsay that s/he was acting, would s/he condone violence indulged against them by anybody else who chose to take offence his/her act or views, etc. Recently, activists of Bhartiya Vidyarthi Sena, student wing of Shiv Sena, decided to blacken the face of a professor of JJ school of Arts on certain accusations, with media in tow. The blackened face of the professor, destruction of painting or other properties, vandalization of Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute's invaluable collection of manuscripts and trophies of BCCI in Mumbai to prevent Indo-Pak cricket match, make very good visuals for media and get them high TRPs or circulation. I very sincerely doubt if any of the vandalizers in all of these incidents was self mobilized and convinced that violent attack was the only way in which his/her honour or beliefs and convictions could be salvaged. Those who get mobilized for such acts have been assured publicity on one hand and legal impunity on the other hand. They are made to feel safe to act in accordance with their personal opinions and whims, even though their act is in conflict with the law of the land. While on the way to carry out any violent act, the attackers are warned that they may have to face legal action, and that they could return if they so chose, all of them would return. Participants in such violent attacks are usually cowards and act only when in mob, and have strong herd mentality to follow their leader. The person in such mobs becomes a temporary lion, otherwise living meek and submissive lives.

The Indian state has been very tolerant and indulgent towards vandalism of such elements. The leaders of such a group are politically well connected. Constitutional responsibility of upholding law seems to be the last priority of the Indian political parties while they are ruling. Law is always dispensable for political expediency. If there was any apprehension of legal punishment, such violent incidents would be negligible, however grave a provocation a section of the society would feel. In our daily lives we are offended by several events and incidents and yet we do not act unilaterally on the basis of our superior strength, and fear of law is a big consideration. If a section of society is offended or provoked by any act of another individual or group, there is always legal recourse available. Hindu organisations in US sued Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets for not informing their customers that they were using animal fats in their food preparations and won their legal battle and got compensation. Hindu organizations like VHP and Bajrang Dal in India chose to vandalize KFC outlets rather than pursue a legal course. The different strategies pursued in different countries by organizations representing same grievances are not because Hindus in US are more tolerant than in India. The different strategies are because Indian state is more tolerant than the US towards any such vandalism. There would be penal consequences of any such vandalism in US whereas organizations like Bajrang Dal and VHP know that there are practically no consequences for indulging in such acts. In UK recently, a white male was arrested for the crime of calling a member of a Sikh community as a Hindu. One Sikh was killed after attack on Twin Towers in New York mistaking him to be followers of Osama bin Laden and not only the culprits were booked, the US president went on air to appeal to everybody not to attack anyone and warned of strict legal action.

After every violent deed, such organizations are able increase their strength and membership and some even collect protection money. All such violent deeds are undertaken posing as defenders of a particular faith or culture. Every act of vandalism should be a sad reminder of inaction of the state against such groups. Instead of taking any action against the MIM cadres for attacking Taslima Nasreen, the AP Govt. has slapped cases on Taslima Nasreen under section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code, for offence of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. Taslima Nasreen was in Hyderabad for release of Telugu translation of her book titled "Shodh". She was attacked not because of anything written in her book Shodh , but because a fatwa was issued against her for other writings where she has reportedly made anti-Islamic statements. She was not attacked for any statement that she made while in Hyderabad. MIM cadres who gave interviews to media did not make grievance of anything that Ms. Nasreen stated in her address in Hyderabad. From where did the police concluded that Nasreen was promoting enmity on grounds of religion? Registering offence under S. 153-A is probably an after thought to allow the MIM cadres to escape their culpability. MIM MLAs openly threatened to kill her if she stepped again in Hyderabad through media and are still roaming freely on the streets of Hyderabad, though belatedly the Government was forced to file a case on Akbaruddin Owaisi.
It is absolutely futile to label any such vandalism indulged in with political calculations as either Muslim vandalism or Hindu Vandalism as the primary objective behind the vandalism is not protection of religion or culture, but, political. The vandalism indulged in by Shiv Sena or Bajrang Dal or VHP and organizations of their ilk are not to protect Hindu religion or culture nor that of MIM and organizations of their ilk to protect Islam. Islam, Hinduism and people's culture are not dependant on crutches of such organizations for their survival. Taslima Nasreen and even a powerful section of western media or dutch cartoons cannot do any harm to Islam. Not only liberal Muslims but even conservative section of the community and many religious leaders in Mumbai have condemned the attack on Taslima Nasreen, though they disagree with her views. It will be a big mistake to club all Muslims together and label them as fundamentalists.
Every time such attacks take place, the Muslim liberals are also put in the dock and lectured that they must do something. The fight of Muslim liberals is not just against Muslim Shiv Senas like MIM, it is against the state itself. The struggle of Hindu liberals is also not just with the organizations like VHP and Bajrang Dal whenever such attacks take place. Liberals across religions and communities should come together and hold the state accountable for its inaction against such vandalism. That alone is guarantee for survival of democracy.