Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Deplorable

Uttar Pradesh Minister Haji Mohammad Yaqoob's announcement of a reward of Rs.51 crore and gold equivalent to the weight of one who gets the head of the Danish cartoonist who caricatured Prophet Muhammed is deplorable. Instead of counselling his people to observe restraint, he has encouraged bloodthirsty mobs. A strong faith should not be shaken by childish attempts to denounce it.

Aditya Aravind,
Chennai

* * *

Such utterances erode the image of Islam. I appeal to people like Mr. Yaqoob: do not play foul politics.

Mohammad Ashyam,
Aligarh, U.P.

* * *

The announcement is a great threat to secularism. Why are secularists who pounce upon the Sangh Parivar keeping a stony silence? It is a pity that the Uttar Pradesh Government and the Centre are not treating the issue with the seriousness it deserves.

R. Muralikumar,
Chennai

* * *

The Minister has left everybody aghast. Such calls and violent protests will only alienate those who empathise with the Muslims' cause.

J. Akshobhya,
Mysore

* * *

Mr. Yaqoob will do well to remember that he is a Minister in the Republic of India and not in any Islamic nation.

S.S. Vinekar,
Karnal, Haryana

* * *

The protests are spreading like wild fire and should be handled judiciously. Joint appeals by religious leaders and statesmen will help.

P.U. Krishnan,
Udhagamandalam, T.N.

* * *

The horrendous pronouncement deserves the highest punishment. The Danish cartoons are without doubt highly condemnable. Protests in a civilised form are in order, not those that fall in the realm of barbarism.

Kasim Sait,
Chennai

* * *

Such statements attract punishment under the penal code. What kind of message is the Minister sending within and outside the country?

V. Phaneendra,
Hyderabad

* * *

The Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary has stated in unambiguous terms that the Government does not contemplate any action against Mr. Yaqoob. The Minister who has taken oath of allegiance under the Constitution has no moral right to continue after violating it. In the interest of peace, and law and order, he must be dropped.

S. Nallasivan,
Tirunelveli, T.N.

* * *

Nothing can be more shameful than the violence unleashed in India in the name of protesting against the cartoons and the cold-blooded murder call by Mr. Yaqoob.

Udita Agrawal,
New Delhi

* * *

Such irresponsible rhetoric will only distort Islam's image.

Venu C. Nair,
Nileshwar, Kerala

* * *

Evidently, Mr. Yaqoob was oblivious to the implications of his rhetoric. Which proves how much our Ministers care for those who vote for them. He deserves stringent punishment for endangering public order.

Anuj Verma,
Meerut, U.P.

* * *

The fatwa is no less condemnable than the cartoons on Prophet Muhammed. Having said that, I am curious to know whether Mr. Yaqoob proposes to give the money from his own pocket. If yes, the Income Tax Department should investigate his assets.

K.S. Sundaram,
Bangalore

* * *

I sympathise with the religious group whose sentiments have been hurt. I was looking at the images of the riot and arson in Pakistan and was quite surprised. When will people stop damaging their own property in the name of protest?

I was even more worried when I read about the violent incidents in Hyderabad. To add to the confusion has come Mr. Yaqoob's offer of cash and gold. While it is obviously a gimmick to attract media attention, the income tax authorities would do well to be alert.

Balaji Viswanath,
Vellore, T.N.

* * *

Such statements only reinforce the belief among non-Muslims that Islam encourages extremism. One hopes the Indian tax authorities will swing into action and find out how the Minister could commit so much money in a country where four out of 10 go to bed hungry.

Shakir Lakhani,
Karachi

* * *

Violent protests in many parts of the country, particularly Hyderabad, are most unfortunate. Such violence is against the noble principles of Islam. Muslim leaders must propagate Gandhian values such as non-violence and secularism among their community.

K.G. Acharya,
Mumbai

* * *

The cartoons are despicable. But equally despicable is Mr. Yaqoob's inflammatory statement. It is incitement to murder and no less. The Government's stand that such statements constitute no offence because they are against someone in a distant land is the height of absurdity. Even the cartoons were published in a distant land.

A. Mukundan,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

The announcement is nothing but instigation to murder. That it has been made in the land of Gandhi, that too by a Minister, is most unfortunate.

K. Pandurangan,
Vellore, T.N.

* * *

The Minister has actually brought a bad name to the community and country. He should not have indulged in such irresponsible rhetoric for political mileage. There is no sanction for such things in Islam.

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman,
Ambur, T.N.

* * *

The Minister has made it amply clear that our leaders are ready to spend money on violence and cruel actions but not on the welfare of people.

Neha Atri,
New Delhi

* * *

If, in future, Danish newspapers want to mock at the gods in the name of freedom of expression, let them do so with regard to Hindu gods. It will not invite protests from anyone other than communal organisations such as the BJP and the Shiv Sena who can be conveniently ignored.

S. Ramakrishnan,
Chennai

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