Is Hindu right wing behind Indian Mujahideen, ask Muslim groups

Mumbai, Sep 17 : Terming the Indian Mujahideen, which has claimed responsibility for the serial blasts in Ahmedabad and New Delhi, as fictitious, several Muslim organisations and clerics have demanded investigations into the possible role of the Hindu right wing in the terror attacks.

In a statement issued here Wednesday evening, 21 Muslim organisations challenged Indian Mujahideen leaders to come out in the open and prove their actions.

“We hereby challenge the so-called IM to come out in the open and prove that they are representatives and spokesmen for the Ummah, and justify their actions point by point, or else it will be eventually surmised that they are non-persons and nothing but a figment of the Sangh Parivar's unscrupulous imagination, brought into the collective psyche of all Indians by the grand alliance of Mossad and their protagonists in the country,” the statement said.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and organisations ideologically affiliated with it are collectively known as the Sangh Parivar.

Justifying the contention, Sarfaraz Arzoo, member of the All India Milli Council and prominent Urdu media personality, said: “We have to look into the issue as to who gains political mileage out of it (the blasts). Definitely, it is the Sangh Parivar which is getting mileage and hence the needle of suspicion points towards Sangh Parivar.”

Muslim cleric Maulana Hafiz Syed Athar Ali argued that there is nothing like the Indian Mujahideen. He said that the Muslims were blamed earlier for terror attacks in the name of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and now a new name has come up.

“Our religious sentiments are being hurt. Examine the role of others, the saffron organisations, the Mossad and the CIA,” said Ali, president of All India Ulemas Council.

He added that soon after the July 26 Ahmedabad serial blasts, US national Kenneth Haywood came under the scanner, but his passport was not impounded. He managed to go to the US despite a look-out notice against him and “he returned after destroying evidence,” Ali added.

Minutes before the Ahmedabad blasts, a threat mail had been sent to media organisations in the name of the Indian Mujahideen. it was soon found that the mail was sent using Haywood's Wi-Fi internet connection.

The joint statement added that the serial blasts have resulted in “progressive polarization” of Indian society and hastened the speed of marginalisation of the Muslim community which eventually will result in rich dividends for the Sangh Parivar, the 'sole beneficiaries'.

“This is something they (Sangh Parivar) have always dreamt of but never successfully achieved. With Indian Mujahideen in their kitty, their tough job is getting easier by the day,” according to the statement.

“The Muslims in India cannot continue to be silent spectators and are ready to play a historic role in the rejuvenation and revitalization of Indian ethos. The recent flow of events cannot succeed in forcing us to abdicate our responsibilities,” it said.