Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Muslims & linkages

This refers to the article “Indian Muslims and their linkages” (June 6). Political parties have always considered the Muslim community a tool to grab power. Its leadership which, in many cases, does not have a vision for the development of the community, has exploited Muslims for selfish ends. At the other end of the spectrum are parties that seek to grab political power by targeting the community. As a result, Muslims have been denied opportunities, which would have otherwise accrued to them. This has led to frustration and deprivation among the youth who become vulnerable for exploitation by unscrupulous elements, which are neither accepted nor blessed by the community.

The progressive and proactive stand of the Darul-Uloom Deoband is welcome. It will take the sheen out of the armour of right-wing political parties.

Mohamed Zafrulla Khan,

Bangalore

As stated by the author, the argument that while all Muslims are not terrorists, all terrorists are Muslim is nothing but meretricious. But the contention that Indian Muslim leaders, instead of depending on their own religious institutions to deal with problems confronting the community, are excessively kowtowing to the Middle Eastern donors is baseless. It is, in fact, the other way round. Many members of the majority community have been asking Muslims to follow their West Asian counterparts in the matter of following their personal law.

And it is not the mindset of Muslims that is making the task of jihadis easier; it is the majority community’s victim mindset and police atrocities that are doing so. This is true of not only jihadis but any kind of extremists, including naxalites.

Syed Ali Hashmi,

Hyderabad

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