Calcutta, Nov. 22: Rivalry among minority politicians to cash in on the Taslima Nasreen ouster campaign was one of the major reasons for yesterday’s violence.
However, Milli Ittehad Parisad, the umbrella forum of 12 Muslim organisations, has condemned the riots after a meeting tonight. “We denounce the violence as it was inhuman and anti-Islamic. We have appealed to all, including the Imams of mosques in the city to preach peace during the Jumma prayers tomorrow,” said Abdul Aziz, the joint convener of the Parisad and a leader of Jamat-e-Islami Hind. “From now on, our movement for Taslima’s expulsion will be peaceful. If any of our constituent members violates the policy, it will be taken to task.’’
The Parisad, floated recently under the leadership of the Jamait Ulema-I-Hind, had clubbed Nandigram and Taslima at its rally last Thursday. The organisers of yesterday’s agitation were the All India Minority Forum, led by Congress leader and lawyer Idris Ali, and Toha Siddiqui, a member of the Furfura Pir clan. Both are members of the Parisad.
Ali, however, has refused to take responsibility for the violence that rocked Calcutta yesterday. Instead, he said today: “We are happy that the explosion of the community’s pent-up anger compelled Biman Bose (CPM state secretary) to ask Taslima to leave.’’ He was sharing a news conference with the Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque, Nurur Rahman Barkati, and Siddiqui.
For sometime, Ali has been vying for political space with Siddiqullah Chowdhury, the Jamait leader, who has carved out a niche for himself following anti-land acquisition movements in Nandigram and elsewhere. “He is jealous that he could not nudge the CPM and the government into action over Taslima in the last three years,’’ Ali said. He was referring to Chowdhury’s criticism of his agitation as “an act of irresponsible and baseless leadership”.
While the Congress leader is for clubbing Nandigram with Taslima, Barkati insisted that his only concern was the writer’s expulsion. For Siddiqi, Taslima was a principal issue, but not the only one.
“I told both Chowdhury and Ali not to mix Nandigram with our agitation against Taslima. I am for amity. But I will not rest till our demand is met since her presence is an attack on our religious identity,’’ Barkati said.
CPM MP Mohammad Salim said he was worried about moderate-turned-hardliners among minority leaders. “The change of Idris Ali denotes the process,” Salim said.
Chowdhury, on the other hand, described Bose’s statement — that Taslima should leave — as “an effort to please all sides”. He said the “government and the CPM’s doublespeak on Taslima sent a wrong message to the community”. He alleged that “many CPM supporters had joined the rampage yesterday”.
Aziz echoed him. “Many Trinamul Congress and CPM supporters were part of the agitation since the anger over Taslima was widespread,” he said. He added that Nandigram would continue to be his focus.
