Guest post by MAHTAB ALAM
Akbaruddin Owaisi, an MLA of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, who belongs to a Hyderabad-based political party All India Majlis-e-Ittihad al-Muslimin, better known as MIM, and its floor leader in the Assembly made an inflammatory speech against Hindus on 24 December 2012 at a public meeting in Adilabad District. The speech attracted widespread condemnation by Muslim activists, rightly so, apart from left, liberal individuals and organizations. Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, President, All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat (AIMMM), an umbrella body of prominent Indian Muslim organizations termed it ‘a hate and rash speech’ arguing, ‘words that should never have been uttered by a responsible person, let alone a political leader, were used’.
Shabnam Hashmi, a prominent social activist and who has been relentlessly working on the issue of minority rights registered an FIR in Delhi against Owaisi stating, ‘the whole speech is highly objectionable, inflammatory and against the values of our constitution, democracy and secular values’. Similarly, FIRs were also registered in the State invoking section 295 A (for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). Owaisi was arrested finally arrested on Tuesday (8th January) and sent to 14-day judicial custody.
However, there was a small section of Muslims, mostly individuals, who held this as an illustration of the ‘double standards of civil society and state machinery’. The crux of their argument was, that while governments take speedy actions and act in a haste in the cases where Muslims are involved even in petty crimes, criminals belonging to the majority community roam free despite being involved in all sorts of serious crimes such as communal carnage, mass murders, looting and rapes, let alone the cases of hate speech. While on the surface, these allegations might appear as a desperate attempt to defend communalists belonging to the Muslim community – and indeed some of them may be—the fact is that these claims are not that far removed from reality.
Sample this. Praveen Togadia, Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) international working President, during his recent visit to Hyderabad in December last year, made an equally inflammatory and communal speech while addressing a press conference in the city. The VHP president at the press conference on the issue of controversial Bhagya Lakshmi Mandir- Charminar threatened Muslims by saying that ‘VHP will convert Hyderabad into Ayodhya if Hindus are not allowed to perform Puja’. The simple fact is that Hindus have never been stopped from performing Puja. He further thundered the VHP would teach Muslims of Hyderabad a lesson that they would never forget. Following this, a few cases have been registered against him but the government is yet to act. It is well known of course that this is not the first time when he has made such a speech. In fact, several such cases are pending against Togadia, not only in Hyderabad but in different parts of the country; and the police and the governments have never acted against him.
And Togadia is not a solitary soldier: there is a veritable contingent of Togadias whose prime work is hate mongering and inciting violence, especially in situations where there are higher chances of communal disturbance and violence. It has become almost a routine for these forces to fuel violence in name of protecting their religion, religious tenets and identity or interests of their fellow religionists and people. Ashok Singhal, Adityanath Yogi, Uma Bharti, Sadhvi Ritambhara and Raj/Udhav Thackeray to name a few. What is strange, though often understood, that they draw their supports from political parties of all hues. While certified communal political parties like BJP and Shiv Sena lent them open support, self- appointed secular parties like Congress and Samajwadi Party would never bother to book them according to the law of the land despite ample evidence being available. Hence, these cases of selective action only prove that our governments utilize double standards for crimes of similar nature, for criminals belonging to minority and majority communities. Varun Gandhi is the sole exception, and there are indications already that the UP government may go slow on him, after he submitted an application for quashing of the case against him.
It was interesting also to see how the Owaisi saga played out in the electronic media. Watching these programmes, one would think that Owaisi was the originator of hate speech in India, and not simply one among the many who blight public discourse through their venom. TV anchors after anchor summoned ‘Muslim’ politicians from a range of political parties daring them to condemn Owaisi. Would the Congress Party spokesperson be ever asked to condemn Togadia – or Rithambara or Uma –as a Hindu or as someone opposed to their politics or ideology? Why then this rush to seek declarations from Muslim politicians as Muslims? Coming just months after all TV channels were paying obeisance to Bal Thackeray, whose political career was built on hate and its articulation, the self righteousness of the various channel heads is only amusing.
So now that Owaisi is thankfully arrested, the larger question is: what about Singhals, Yogis, Bhartis and Thackerays? Will they ever be arrested and sent to jail like Owaisi for their umpteen numbers of crimes? This must be answered; at least to show that we as a constitutionally declared secular country – considered to be the world’s largest democracy – do not practice two different sets of rules for majority and minority. Remember, mere lip service like in the past would not work this time as it would only further the argument of the State practicing double standards.
Is anyone listening?
(Mahtab Alam is a Delhi based civil rights activist and freelance journalist. Email: activist dotjournalist at gmail dot com.)
KAFILA - COLLECTIVE EXPLORATIONS SINCE 2006 
Your plea is sound and question blunt and straight.One finds oneself answerlsss.What we have to remember that at times cases are registered and they are arrested as well.There are some instances also but o what end?Has anyone of them ever punished.Even the case against Pragya,Purohit etc.and those involved in Samjhauta Express blast is going at its own speex.One is not at all sure if it will lead to a logical end.What happened in cases where other big leaders of BJP are involved.The other thinb one has to remember that they all pursuing a politics for Hindu Rashtra.That too under our Constitution which promisds a Secular Iindia.The third polnt is that Owaisis are not known to follow a politics for a separate Islamic state.It would negate their own stand if such Hate speeches are continued.The state is selective not only in this case but in all cases.
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The blunt and straightforward fact is that Pravin Togadia is a Hindu in a Hindu country where Hindus have the authority to kill any non- Hindu and are protected by the Hindu law. Whereas, this law does not give even the right for self-defence to any non-Hindus. Do you find any group that stands for the rights of Muslims in India? like VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, BJP, RSS? Any group that is formed so safeguard the rights of Muslims is banned whereas Hindu terrorism and its organizations are enjoying the freedom given to them by law.
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Owaisi was directly inciting Moslems to kill Hindus. Why do commentators have to bring in Thackeray or Togadia, on this issue. It’s not equivalent, and certainly not connected.
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Varun, ignorance is not bliss!!! Commentors bring in Togodia because it certainly is connected. Pravin Togadia on 10 Dec 2012 said – ” If People are Stopped From Going To Bhagyalaxmi Mandir, I Will Turn Hyderabad Into Ayodhya”. Tagodia stated that lakhs of Hindus will throng to Hyderabad like they did in Ayodhya. Furthermore he threatened that there are 100 crore Hindus in India who can crush the Muslims… and the rest the wise can themselves link and understand. Regarding this BHAGYALAKSHMI mandir, it suddenly cropped out of nowhere on one corner of the Charminar, a National Heritage site. I had never seen this mandir and it was my frequently used route too. Also if you look at old pictures of Charminar you can very well see that there was no Mandir attached to the side of Charminar. Plus the Charminar itself is a masjid and its base used to be the ablution area. Initially the mandir was made by an old lady who took up minimal space and no objections were raised. But gradually it kept growing and expanding to the present stage. And a couple of months ago there were further plans of expanding it, the proverbial last straw that broke the camel’s back. Patience ran out prompting the muslims and the MIM to stall the expansion by taking a legal course of action. At no point were people stopped from performing puja over there, the only bone of contention was the expansion. The threat by Tagodia was totally unwarranted and uncalled for. Please check the article on CHARMINAR in THE HINDU newspaper — HYDERABAD, November 22, 2012. Doodh ka doodh… pani ka pani hogaya iss article se
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/temple-beside-charminar-more-evidence/article4121597.ece
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there was a documentary made by Anand Patwardhan on Babri Masjid “Ram Ke Naam”.Every indian should watch it and draw a sensible conclusion
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Varun, Owaisi spoke. His audience did not go on a rampage killing people, destroying property immediately. Thackrey spoke. And the result was people being killed and property destroyed. I don’t recall Thackrey doing time in prison after the Babri riots in Mumbai. Unfortunately a rule for one is not a rule for all. And that is the point this writer is making.
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Of course its not equivalent. Owaisi is a newbie infront of monsters like Togadiya and Thakre. Of course with one eye blind, you can not see their offenses.
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Very juvenile and confused article – Wonder how such simplistic articles find their way to Kafila.
Owaisi is a habitual offender – a simple search on youtube would provide many videos, old and new. The famed hate speech of Owaisi, made on 24th of Dec, is one of the last in a long list of such speeches – and everyone in the know were looking away all the time.It was only when one of his over zealous associates recorded it and started airing it in a local cable channel did it acquire notoriety (And I also read that the CDs of the said speech are currently being distributed freely in all the MIM meeting venues). Even then, the govt: and media were looking away and pretending that it didnt exist. No action was taken against him, no words of condemnation from major leaders – all we got were some half hearted platitudes from minor leaders. Not even a case was booked, until a court directed the police to do so. The first article on Kafila too came up almost 10 days later – an article which couldnt even condem Owaisi’s words unequivocally – I guess thats the left-liberal style of reacting to Islamist elements. I saw a TV program where Nafisa Ali was caling Mr. Owaisi “Young Man” and she also found “logic” in some of the “questions” raised by Owaisi.
As an aside, Imagine an article in Kafila when Raj Thackeray spits venom the next time, written by a “person carrying a Hindu Name”(sic), mildly rebuking Raj Thackeray and “kindly” advising him not to speak like Owaisi, containing references to Owaisi more no: of times than Raj Thackeray.
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Justice should be done to all.
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Dear Mr. Alam,
In the 3rd paragraph, you have approvingly summarised an accusation that “criminals belonging to the majority community roam free despite being involved in all sorts of serious crimes”. Firstly, may I know why you have not quoted any STATISTICS to support that accusation (unless you believe that figures are irrelevant to arguments)? Secondly, are you saying that the total number of Hindu prisoners is LESS than that of non-Hindu prisoners in Hindu-majority India (unless you think that the actual number of Hindu prisoners is irrelevant and only the percentage of Muslim prisoners is very relevant)? Thirdly, do you dispute the fact that MOST convicts who have been hanged / given the death sentence in this Hindu-majority country were / are of the majority religion?
In the 4th paragraph, you have written that Praveen Togadia has made “an equally inflammatory and communal speech”. However, Mr. Dileep Padgaonkar (one of the three interlocutors for Jammu & Kashmir and a former editor of the world’s largest selling English daily) has written, “The parivar bigots have been condemned, especially by secular Hindus. But the worst of these bigots have not done what Owaisi has done: he has denigrated the divinities that Hindus hold with utmost respect. Not once has any Hindu bigot attacked Allah or his Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him.)” Before equalising Togadia with Owaisi, would you mind reading Mr. Padgaonkar’s blog-post dated 06th January 2013 (unless you doubt his secular credentials)?
In the 5th paragraph, after alleging that Togadia et al “draw their supports from political parties of all hues”, you have named only Congress and Samajwadi Party. Firstly, do you think that they are the ONLY parties other than the Hindutva ones? Secondly, while accusing Congress for not acting against Hindutva leaders, do you feel that the party is acting strongly against RAJIV GANDHI’s killers and BEANT SINGH’s killer? If you admit that Congress has not acted strongly against the recent honouring of Indira Gandhi’s assassins, can’t we conclude that the party is lenient to criminals IRRESPECTIVE of their religion? While accusing Samajwadi Party not acting against Hindutva leaders, do you feel that the party has acted strongly against its Muslim leader Mohammad Azam Khan for publicly suggesting that Kashmir might not be a part of India (unless you feel that questioning the country’s integrity is not THAT big an offence)?
In the same paragraph, you have said that Varun Gandhi “submitted an application for quashing of the case against him.” However, nowhere have you said that Akbaruddin Owaisi has also done the SAME in the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
In the 6th paragraph, you have written, “It was interesting also to see how the Owaisi saga played out in the electronic media. Watching these programmes, one would think that Owaisi was the originator of hate speech”. However, you have not written whether you have seen how the VARUN saga had played out in the electronic media (in March 2009). In case you saw those programmes, did you think that Varun was the originator of hate speech?
You also write, “TV anchors after anchor summoned ‘Muslim’ politicians from a range of political parties daring them to condemn Owaisi.” Once again, you do not write if TV anchors had not summoned ‘Hindu’ politicians from a range of political parties daring them to condemn Varun (in Mar ’09).
You go on to ask, “Would the Congress Party spokesperson be ever asked to condemn Togadia – or Rithambara or Uma – as a Hindu or as someone opposed to their politics or ideology?” In this regard, I wonder if you know of the statements of Digvijay Singh, who is not merely a spokesperson but a member of the party’s highest decision-making body (the Congress Working Committee).
In the last paragraph, you insinuate that Indians “practice two different sets of rules for majority and minority.” However, you do not mention that in India’s Vice-President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Foreign Minister, Chief Justice of India, Attorney General, four Governors, Chief of the Army Staff, Chief of the Air Staff, Marshal of the Air Force, Director of Intelligence Bureau are from religious minorities. Of our 12 ex-Presidents, 4 were from religious minorities. Of our 14 former Speakers of Lok Sabha, 3 were from religious minorities. Of our 41 Bharat Ratnas, 9 are from religious minorities. Of our 17 former Chief Election Commissioners, 3 were from religious minorities. Of our 10 former Deputy Chairmen of Rajya Sabha, 4 were from religious minorities. Of our 13 ex-Deputy Speakers of Lok Sabha, 4 were from religious minorities. Of our 2 Field Marshals, 1 was from a religious minority. Of our 18 former Chiefs of Naval Staff, 4 were from religious minorities. Of our 19 former Chiefs of Air Staff, 6 were from religious minorities. And, this is NOT an exhaustive list!
At the end, you have asked, “Is anyone listening?” I end by humbly asking – are YOU listening?
With regards,
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Post-script of my reply to Mr. Alam –
Not only Mr. Padgaonkar, even ‘The Hindu’ newspaper has been UNEQUIVOCAL in condemning Owaisi’s December speech. The paper’s editorial column of 04th January 2013 said, “by any yardstick, the recent rabble-rousing speech of Akbaruddin Owaisi, leader of the Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, plumbs new depths.”
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Ms Paroma Das, you probably have not actually seen the whole of Akbar Owaisi’s speech, I suggest you go through the WHOLE speech carefully and get yourself a translator if you do not understand Urdu. A section of the media that is blatantly biased portrays things taken out of context in an attempt to give the audience a totally different message than what is actually conveyed, unfortunately we live in a world of hypocrites full of double standards. If you agree with The Hindu’s opinion that this speech “plumbs new depths.” then I must say that you have not heard the various venomous speeches puked out by the likes of Tagodia, Advani, Modi, Uma Bharati etc. Just be true to yourself and think like a human being, remember at the end you and everybody else are answerable to God.
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wow i’m impressed u have written a whole book here bravo,
Yogi Adityanath – ” If One Hindu Is Killed, We Will Kill 10 Muslims”
Pravin Togadia – ” If one hindu pandit is even touched , We Will Kill 10 crore Muslims”
Varun Gandhi – ” My Hands Will Cut The Heads Of Muslims”
Pravin Togadia – ” If People are Stopped From Going To Bhagyalaxmi Mandir, I Will Turn Hyderabad Into Ayodhya”
Bal Thackeray – ” Muslims are Spreading Like Cancer And Should Be Eliminated From The Society ”
Pravin Togadia – ” Boycott Travelling in Taxis Of Muslims, Boycott Buying Things From Muslim Shops And Boycott The Quran”
dont u find these idiots also must be arrested.
is it f***g democracy or what.
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HUM AAH BHI KARTEY HAI THO BADNAAM HOJATAY HAI…
WOH QATAL BHI KARTAY HAI THO CHARCHA NAHI HOTA HAI
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Pravin Togadia – ” If People are Stopped From Going To Bhagyalaxmi Mandir, I Will Turn Hyderabad Into Ayodhya”
Tagodia stated that lakhs of Hindus will throng to Hyderabad like they did in Ayodhya. Furthermore he threatened that there are 100 crore Hindus in India who can crush the Muslims, and the rest the wise can themselves link and understand
By the way, I have never heard of Goddess BHAGYALAKSHMI in Hindu mythology, has anybody else?????
Regarding this BHAGYALAKSHMI mandir, it suddenly cropped out of nowhere on one corner of the Charminar, a National Heritage site. I have never seen this mandir ever and it was my frequently used route too. Also if you look at old pictures of Charminar you can very well see that there was no Mandir attached to the side of Charminar. Plus the Charminar itself is a masjid and its base used to be the ablution area. Initially the mandir was made by an old lady who tool up minimal space and no objections were made. But gradually it kept growing and expanding to the stage it now is. And a couple of months ago there were further plans of expanding it, the proverbial last straw that broke the camel’s back. Patience ran out prompting the muslims and the MIM to stall the expansion by taking a legal course of action. At no point were people stopped from performing puja over there, the only bone of contention was the expansion. The threat by Tagodia was totally unwarranted and uncalled for.
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Doodh ka doodh… pani ka pani hogaya iss article se
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/temple-beside-charminar-more-evidence/article4121597.ece
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Wow. I guess this is all anyone needs to read. Thanks!
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Mahtab, good article. Of course there is a bias. Your article highlights it in a very uncomplicated manner.
I’m amused at the lengths certain commentators over here have gone to ‘prove you wrong’. Except they can’t, because you can’t hide the sun with your hand. Keep writing. Pay no attention to the rabble.
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let me explain you in brief what alam wants to tell: why people like Owaisi are arrested but not people like Togadias don’t for same act….. your complete message doesnt make me conclude anything.
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Excellent read….
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Very well said, unfortunately we live in a world of hypocrites full of double standards.
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Janab Mahtab Aalam sahab ne bilkul sahi kaha hai
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The fact is that in India, political parties are very afraid of religious rabble rousers and its the “whole sale agents” of muslim votes who have exploited this to the hilt.
Owaisis’ MIM, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi, people behind Raza Academi in Mumbai are all examples that readily come to mind.
It looks like there are warrants pending against Owaisis for a long time, warrants that were never executed.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-05/hyderabad/36160920_1_akbaruddin-owaisi-mim-leaders-chargesheet
Is it a big issue to acknowledge that the Owaisi brothers are criminal-politicians ? The younger one was wounded badly in a gang fight too.
Also, was the warrant against Delhi Imam (Imam Bukhari), pending since 1980s in Kochi High Court, executed ever ? Did he appear before the court ?
Why bring in “muslims are victimised” argument over and over, even for a criminal like Owaisi ? Isnt it the first time that a religious hate monger had abused even religious figures of another religion ?
I will say it again – its a simplistic juvenile article. I wonder how tit found its way to Kafila…
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There can be no double standards on such issues. Hate mongers on all sides should be condemned and if their speeches are construed to be an incitement to violence, they need to be arrested. I personally see no difference between Togadia or Owaisi. They are two sides of the same coin and feed of each other’s hatred.
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Dear Mr. Haseeb,
You have written, “you probably have not actually seen the whole of Akbar Owaisi’s speech”. Please let me know the REASON for your assumption – are you monitoring my internet usage?
You have also written, “get yourself a translator if you do not understand Urdu.” Thanks for your suggestion, but who or what gives you the right to question MY understanding?
Then you write, “If you agree with The Hindu’s opinion that this speech ‘plumbs new depths.’ then I must say that you have not heard the various venomous speeches puked out by the likes of Tagodia”. Once again, you assume that I have not heard the speeches – so, once again, I request you to let me know the reason for such assumption. Moreover, do you think the editorial writer of ‘The Hindu’ has ALSO not heard those speeches?
You advise me to “think like a human being”. Thanks for your advice, but who or what gives you the right to question MY thinking?
You end by saying, “remember at the end you and everybody else are answerable to God.” Well, are you sure that God EXISTS? If you are, then can you explain why God ALLOWS such venomous speeches (whether by Owaisis or by Togadias)? Finally, what makes you think that YOUR answer will satisfy God but mine won’t? How is your life any more pious (in case, God is looking for piety) than mine?
With regards,
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Ms Paroma,
Please do not flatter yourself by thinking that anybody would be interested in monitoring you. Regarding my assumptions, and questioning your understanding/thinking, that is pretty elementary… if, in spite of viewing the complete speech and COMPREHENDING it, you still feel that it was relatively worse than the others, I must say that there definitely is prejudice involved here, and the same goes for the editor. Like I said before, unfortunately we live in a world of hypocrites full of double standards.
And yes, I do believe with conviction and confidence that GOD or BHAGWAN/ALLAH/ELOHIM/JEHOVAH/ISHWAR/RAB exists, he is the absolute truth. I can bet my life on that, rest assured.The very fact that you are breathing bears testimony of his existence. He allows such venomous speeches, genocides, murders etc because he has created humans with a will of their own and they are responsible for their own actions for which they will be rewarded or punished accordingly. Anyways you will know for yourself when you will have to face him on the day of judgement. You might be a very righteous and pious person, and I might be a sinner who will be thrown into hell fire but we will definitely know that then. I never claimed that GOD will be satisfied by my deeds, but its my job to strive hard. Also, I pity you if you question the existence of your creator.
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“Eminent Social activists in Kerala have strongly condemned the government’s silence over Vishva Hindu Parishad International working President Praveen Togadia’s inflammatory remarks against Muslim community on his October 27 visit to Kerala.
Thogadia was found urging a war against Muslims in Kerala to prevent them from entering the sea, saying that only Hindu fishermen have the right to do so. He added that beginning from the Kutch of Gujarat, through Kerala until Bengal, the sea belongs to Hindu” (www.twocircles.net, 2 Nov 2012)
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Mr. Paroma Das is trying to justify his false comments & reply to Mr. Alam’s article. What is been said here is very simple “Justice to all, No double standards..!!”
When a man runs out of truth & evidences to prove his word, he use the trick of “twist of the tongue.”
Mr. Das let’s be honest to ourselves and let us be frank & courageous enough to accept the TRUTH.
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Sir ,i am a Hindu believe in god and respect other religion. I too don’t like a structure coming up near charminar and spoiling its beauty. its my country’s heritage structure and i want it like it was .
As regards the speech will the Muslims accept someone a hindu fanatic who speaks in the same tone as Owaisi about Allah.Danish newspaper cartoon is an example. my god is my belief and leave it to me and same is allah to others and i dont have right to speak about it.can someone tell Owaisi about it. can the muslims of the country say about it. Not even a single speaker from the community said or condemned about it on any news channel. it hurts me. makes me partisan.did Togadia or any other hindu fanatic speak about allah in same tone as Owaisi. may be i may not be aware of it
now comparing Praveen Togadia with Owaisi doesn’t make sense. Does togadia represent people . can he win even a single seat at any place in the country. he doesn’t have place in so call Hindutva state of Modi. Why make him feel so important . he gets a kick out of it.does Togadia and Owaisi belong to same catagory . i thought MLA was supposed to be a responsible person than a street urchin or does he belong to the same catagory? Decide yourself.
My country is partisan in attitude? Yes ,gives subsidy on HAJ travelling.This even the most of the Muslim countries don’t give, i am told for it is against Koran. Don’t i have the right for subsidy to go to my temple at any place of my liking?These are petty things and we need to grow up in life and love the country, then only these wont matter.
now as regards the political parties none are secular and cant be because that will not bring in votes and get you to power. congress campaigns in mizoram to vote for them to have a christian way of life , the muslim league too tries to garner on similar lines, JDU samajwadi CPI/M ,SAD all have been to the religious leaders to garner their community support promising moon.we need not talk about BJP and its associates for they are already stamped for communalism. We are living in a fools paradise if we believe any party is secular. Everyone is opportunistic and its we the people of the country who are responsible for it,who think on the lines of religion,togadias and owaisi. for the country’s sake come out of it and live like human stop blaming each other
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So now that Owaisi is thankfully arrested, the larger question is: what about Singhals, Yogis, Bhartis and Thackerays? Will they ever be arrested and sent to jail like Owaisi for their umpteen numbers of crimes? This must be answered.
Stop living in fools paradise. This question is already answered with a big NO. They will never be stopped, leave alone arrested. This is the reality of the biggest secular democracy in the world. All the freedom is for Hindus. All the laws are for muslims.
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“All the freedom is for the Hindus and All the laws are for the Muslims.” very true… sad but true!!! And what’s really appalling is the way the media is sensationalizing the whole damn issue saying that there has been no action taken by congress in trying to persecute this newbie while all the veterans have been puking this venom since a long long time (YES PERSECUTE is the word not PROSECUTE).
Everybody including a few Muslims want all the Muslims to feel apologetic for this speech whereas SOME Hindus don’t even want to accept that Togodia’s, Thackeray’s, etc have uttered anything out of the ordinary (guess it is pretty common for them). Bloody double standards, hypocrites…
HUM AAH BHI KARTEY HAI THO HOJATAY HAI BADNAAM …
WOH QATAL BHI KARTAY HAI THO CHARCHA NAHI HOTA
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i donot know what these political game is happening in hyderabad and what it leads to…
I am really very scared to go out these days in hyderabad. Telangana issue was disturbing until yesterday and now heat of communal hatred has been ignited.
Owaisi’s arrest is justified as I have also viewed the video and found it very uncomfortable.
I donot know praveen togadia till this issue came into light. If he also has done a mistake then he should also be punished. Let law take care of this issue as we are not specialists.
If this is the start for abolishing leaders who provoke communal violence for vote bank, this should be accceptable.
I feel that that politicians are just arrested, as we know the judicial system of india, none of the politician has never been punished till now even though so many unsolved cases are there aganist them..
This is where india judicial system fails.
Lets see what happens.
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What a pathetic post! Using the indefensible Owaisi episode as an excuse to wallow in victimhood. Please let me know how many prominent muslim leaders have been arrested over the last few years for hate speech. AFAIK, no one else. Of course, ditto is the case with Hindu leaders – only Varun was arrested. So if arrest for hate speech is the exception on both sides what are you cribbing about? In Owaisi’s case, the establishment was literally forced to arrest him because the content reeked of such unalloyed and extreme hate of Hindus and Hinduism; more importantly (and unfortunately for Owaisi), it was not just caught on camera but beamed on live TV. He could not even plausibly argue that he was quoted out of context. I have not listened to Togadia’s speeches, but if you want to establish systemic bias, then you have to prove that there were video recordings of his similarly hateful speeches despite which he was let off. VG was arrested because he was caught on video, and any objective observer would agree that his speech was milder by a signficant margin when compared to Owaisi’s.
The fact is both Muslim and Hindu fanatics make such hateful speeches wherever they are politically strong. The Owaisi family (except Asad, perhaps) is notorious for its rabble-rousing hate speeches over the past few decades. My Hyderabadi friends tell me his current speech is more the norm than the exception. Similarly, the Kerala leader, Madani was quite vituperative in his public speeches. So it would be better if Muslims got off the moral high horse on this one.
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it must be remembered that both hindu & muslim communities will have to stay together in this country even if they dont want to be . muslims of india must see the recent history of pakistan . daily bomb blasts, who are the persons doing it. are they minorities of pakistan? certainly not . different sects of muslims fighting amongst them selves. do we want to repeat same between us. hate speeches will do poisonings in community.
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