Why this change of policy on terror?

Does it not sound odd when Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray talks of human rights violation, a forte supposed to be of activists, minorities and academics? Does his statement not echo those of the leader of the Muslim or Christian or Dalit community, who have faced the police brutality for long? But this is true.

The Shiv Sena supermo has charged Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) with third degree torture to the suspects in the Malegaon bomb blasts and trampling upon human rights. Read what he writes in party’s mouthpiece Saamna: "On the pretext of investigation, the ATS officials are riding roughshod adopting arbitrary methods while dealing with the suspects.”

Taking strong exception to the investigating methods of Maharashtra ATS, Thackeray alleged that a telecom engineer picked up by the squad for interrogation was subjected to third degree treatment, paraded in public and later let off.

However, the other charge is Muslims appeasement by the government, which more political in nature, and due to which Muslims have faced double-edge wrath: first, the appeasement rhetoric that the community never knew what it is, including any benefits, if at all and second, leaders like Thackeray presents excuse to intimidate Muslims for fault of theirs. Neither Muslims ask for any appeasement, nor any special benefits, nor any political talk of it, but what the community wants, much what Thackeray and others, fair treatment before law. However, what about the Hindu appeasement that Thackeray and others are pursuing in the name of vote bank politics? Why this change of policy on terror?

The other significant point is more crucial. When Muslim individuals, their leaders and well wishers raised the issue of police highhandedness or accused the Delhi Police for recently done Batla House encounter, almost all sections of the society – media, BJP leaders and others opposed it vehemently as if they were sure of the police action. Now when Thackeray has hurled accusation on the ATS officials, none would like to question the Shiv Sena chief as to why this disbelief in police now?

Next point that Thackeray, like Ravi Shankar Prasad of the BJP, who opposed any sort of judicial probe into Batla House encounter as it would demoralise the police and who asked for a fair enquiry by CBI in Malegaon blasts, has asked is the proof. It echoes Muslims’ ask that the community has been pleading for long: since no offence has so far been proved against any of the accused in any of the bomb blast case so far, there is no reason for the police and ATS to harass the community like they have done in the aftermaths of almost all the bomb blasts on Indian soil.

Well, next charge is serious in nature, as Thackeray said that “the tone and tenor of the investigation shows that the ATS has already made up its mind to convict and hang Lt Colonel Purohit." Thackeray said the ATS should also find out the source of money that flows from foreign countries to finance Muslim terrorists. The Shiv Sena leader is more interested in branding Muslim names and links, rather than the Hindu names and organisation with terror attacks.

Unlike the earlier instances in which only Muslim individuals and organisations have been accused as terrorists, the revelation of Hindu individuals and organisations being involved in terror attacks in Malegaon and Modasa and perhaps other places, the whole scenario has changed as it came as a big jolt to the BJP and likes. The bomb explosion in Kanpur in August this year in which two Bajrang Dal activists were killed was a pointed to the fact the members of Sangh Parivar are also involved in terror activities. The most heartening aspect of terror attacks in India was the Malaegaon bomb blast on the eve of Shabe-e-Barat in the cemetery-cum-mosque in May 2006 and Mecca Masjid blasts during Friday prayers of August 2007, in which Muslims were victims as well as perpetrators.

Perhaps our leaders have failed to act, behave and talk like an impartial human being. While advocating a clear divide between people, they are more interested in their political career. And to see the growth going, they come up with divisive plans and strategies to further the people. Either all the investigations of all the previous cases related to terror attacks on Indian soil were false whereby innocent Muslims were implicated and the police and ATS were wrong in handling all the previous cases of terror or the leaders of the BJP and Shiv Sena are wrong in blaming them. What is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. We must not forget this.