Organization: Penn State University
Date: Monday, 13 Apr 1992 20:16:41 EDT
From: <DXA4@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Responsibility for communal violence

Currently, there has been going on a heated debate on the Muslim situation in
India. The following article by an eminent religious leader will be quite
pertinent in understanding the Muslim psyche and why muslims suffer more losses
than Hindus.
              ....Dinesh Agrawal.....

Source: Muslim India, January 1988
Author: Mr. Waheeduddin Khan

       MUSLIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMMUNAL VIOLENCE

   Communal violence is one of the most talked of subjects these days, and
discussions thereon are dominated by the fact that the brunt of police violence
has to be borne by the Muslims. "The police are killers," say Muslims. Their
theme song is that the brutalities of Adolf Hitler and Chengiz Khan pale into
insignificance beside what the police inflict on innocent citizens.

   At face value, this would appear to be correct. But we must pause and give
greater thought to the actual reasons for police 'misconduct'. Why should it
take place at all? If we marshall all the facts, we see that in every case, the
situation has been aggravated more by the Muslims in question being easily
provoked than by a desire on the part of police to be aggressive. And it is
noteworthy that wherever Muslims are to be found living together in any concen-
tration, this oversensitiveness is very much in evidence; sooner or later, it
is the Muslims themselves who have to pay dearly for it at every level.

    Instances of present-day Muslims fighting amongst themselves are not
uncommon. Due to some historical reasons THEY ARE EASILY INSULTED AND THEN THEY
BECOME OVEREMOTIONAL. However, when it is case of Muslim fighting Muslim, the
quarrel is at least confined to the individuals concerned and does not, there-
fore go beyond all normal civilized limits. But when the fight is between a
Muslim and a Hindu, no matter how minor the provocation it very soon takes on
a communal hue, and the price has to be paid by the whole community.

   The worst kind of situation which develops in this way culminates in a
confrontation with the police, or in UP, with the PAC - The Provintial Armed
constabulary. No one seems to take into account the fact that if you pelt
armed policemen with stones, they will retaliate with bullets. Why should they
not make use of their superior weapons? While fighting with stray individuals
is like playing with matches, fighting with police is like playing with bombs.
Why should we expect that the result will be anything other than general
carnage?

   One glaring example of this is the incident which took place in the Idgah at
Moradabad on the 13th August, 1980. It was a case of pigs having been found
within the precincts of the Idgah, at which the Muslims became highly enraged.
The police officer on duty pleaded with the Muslims to remain calm and assured
them that they would deal with the situation and that the culprits would be
punished. But the Muslims were too incensed to listen to what the police had to
say, and began pelting them with stones. The police officer himself was hit,
and fell down seriously injured. Now it was the turn of the police to be pro-
voked, and, of course, they did not discard their rifles in favor of stones.
Ultimately it was the Muslims who suffered the most disastrous of consequences.
AND ALL BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN UNGOVERNABLE TEMPERS.

    It is clearly the Muslims who are the losers, whether at the individual or
at the communal level, yet they do not stop to think of the ferocity with which
reprisals will be carried out WHEN THEY THEMSELVES HAVE GIVEN PROVOAATION,
LASHING OUT AT ALL AND SUNDRY.......

    Events having shown that Muslims clash not only with Hindus, but also with
the Police - they themselves paying the most devastating price for having
allowed their sense of provocation to get out of hand - we should now ascertain
where to lay the blame. Clearly, THE GREATEST OFFENDERS ARE THE JOURNALISTS AND
LEADERS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY ITSELF. After each and every riot they cannot
find words enough to describe the 'brutility and savagery' of the police; in
consequence, Muslim sentiments are kept perpetually on the boil. Their anger
against and hatred for the police are never allowed to simmer down. As a
result, whenever the police appear on the scene, they become enraged and hit
out at them, trying by all possible means to humiliate them. THIS BELLIGERENT
ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF MUSLIM NEWSPAPERS AND LEADERS IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE
INTENSE MUTUAL HATRED BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND POLICE.

   The sole solution to the problem is to be found in the Quran, which bids us
return good for evil; "Good and evil deeds are not alike. Requite evil with
good, and he between whom and you there is enmity, will become your dearest
friend" (41 : 34)

    The result of acting out of goodness is that it has a softening effect on
the enemy - to the point where he becomes a friend. Even the PAC would not be
immune to such social palliatives. They are, after all, just human beings like
everyone else, and would surely be open to an amicable and reasonable approach.