10-17-2003, 11:50 PM
Muslim leaders warn of `counter-terrorism'
By Our Special Correspondent
MUMBAI Oct. 16. Muslim leaders warned here today of Islamic "counter-terrorism" in response to the "Hindu terrorism" of the VHP, RSS and threatened to move the United Nations to carve out a `safe haven' for Muslims in India on the lines of the Kurdish area in Northern Iraq.
Maulana Saiyad Musannah Miyan, chief patron of the Jamia Qadria Ashrafia, alleged in a statement circulated at a press conference that the Prime Minister was according "tacit endorsement" to the VHP and the RSS.
"It would be a mistake to imagine that Muslims in India are not capable of self-defence against religious terrorists," they said. They were reacting to the reported statement of VHP leaders that the Government action against its proposed rally in Ayodhya could start riots.
The statement, also signed by the Tanzeem Aimmae Masjid president, M. Khalilurrehman Noori, and the general secretary of the Raza Academy, Mohammed Saeed Noori, said: "Hindu terrorism would breed Muslim counter-terrorism, making India the largest breeding ground of terrorism in the world. It seems that the `War on Terror' initiated by the U.S. may have to be extended to India to fight Hindu terrorism."
It praised the Uttar Prades Government and the Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, for the crackdown on the VHP activists. The statement applauded the Hindus who opposed the VHP and the RSS.
By Our Special Correspondent
MUMBAI Oct. 16. Muslim leaders warned here today of Islamic "counter-terrorism" in response to the "Hindu terrorism" of the VHP, RSS and threatened to move the United Nations to carve out a `safe haven' for Muslims in India on the lines of the Kurdish area in Northern Iraq.
Maulana Saiyad Musannah Miyan, chief patron of the Jamia Qadria Ashrafia, alleged in a statement circulated at a press conference that the Prime Minister was according "tacit endorsement" to the VHP and the RSS.
"It would be a mistake to imagine that Muslims in India are not capable of self-defence against religious terrorists," they said. They were reacting to the reported statement of VHP leaders that the Government action against its proposed rally in Ayodhya could start riots.
The statement, also signed by the Tanzeem Aimmae Masjid president, M. Khalilurrehman Noori, and the general secretary of the Raza Academy, Mohammed Saeed Noori, said: "Hindu terrorism would breed Muslim counter-terrorism, making India the largest breeding ground of terrorism in the world. It seems that the `War on Terror' initiated by the U.S. may have to be extended to India to fight Hindu terrorism."
It praised the Uttar Prades Government and the Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, for the crackdown on the VHP activists. The statement applauded the Hindus who opposed the VHP and the RSS.