10-19-2005, 01:42 AM
Pioneer.com
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Arrest Ansari </b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
The riots that began in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, last Thursday and have claimed nearly a dozen lives, are a blot on Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav's Government. He has doubtless suspended five officers including the Divisional Commissioner, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police concerned, for failure to control the violence within 48 hours.
That, however, is not enough. There is ample evidence that the notorious criminal-turned-legislator, Mukhtar Ansari, whose Assembly constituency Mau is, played a leading role in inciting violence. His claim that he had hit the streets after the district authorities had failed miserably in restoring law and order, and that he was, as a representative of the people, trying to help both Hindus and Muslims, does not stand the slightest scrutiny. Violence raged in Mau for three days when, in flagrant violation of curfew restrictions, he went round the affected areas in an open Gypsy surrounded by his armed henchmen as mobs owing allegiance to him brazenly engaged in violence and arson.
While the suspended officers cannot escape their share of the blame for not acting immediately with firmness, the fact remains that, as one of them told a newspaper, Ansari had strictly instructed them not to fire on the rioters as he would calm them down. While it was entirely wrong on their part to listen to Ansari, who has 36 criminal cases against him and a conviction under TADA and not act as they were required to under the law, the fact that his close links with Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was no secret must have influenced their judgement at a time when political patronage determines a bureaucrat's career profile more than efficient and honest work.
As Chief Minister, Mr Yadav cannot afford to have people like Ansari in a position where they can claim close proximity to him. Booking Ansari is not enough; Mr Yadav should also order his arrest. He must also expel from his party every person with criminal antecedents. Apart from the question of Ansari's culpability, nothing short of such a dramatic move can convince administrators that they should not bow to the dictates of criminals and act according to the law. Otherwise, the danger of the riots spreading to the rural areas or of other riots breaking out can hardly be ruled out. For, communal violence does not occur in a vacuum.
In the present instance it is significant that in all previous years, Bharat Milap had been celebrated with loudspeakers blaring Hindu devotional songs and the Hanuman Chalisa, despite the observance of Roza by Muslims. What prompted a section of Muslims to demand its postponement this year? And how could an argument over it lead to widespread violence? Mr Yadav will do well to ponder this and also reports of growing ISI and fundamentalist Islamist activity in Uttar Pradesh. <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Minority communalism is as repugnant a phenomenon majority communalism and needs to be dealt with firmly. Allowing it to grow will be disastrous as it not only feeds Islamist militancy but can also trigger a severe majority community backlash. </span>
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Arrest Ansari </b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
The riots that began in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, last Thursday and have claimed nearly a dozen lives, are a blot on Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav's Government. He has doubtless suspended five officers including the Divisional Commissioner, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police concerned, for failure to control the violence within 48 hours.
That, however, is not enough. There is ample evidence that the notorious criminal-turned-legislator, Mukhtar Ansari, whose Assembly constituency Mau is, played a leading role in inciting violence. His claim that he had hit the streets after the district authorities had failed miserably in restoring law and order, and that he was, as a representative of the people, trying to help both Hindus and Muslims, does not stand the slightest scrutiny. Violence raged in Mau for three days when, in flagrant violation of curfew restrictions, he went round the affected areas in an open Gypsy surrounded by his armed henchmen as mobs owing allegiance to him brazenly engaged in violence and arson.
While the suspended officers cannot escape their share of the blame for not acting immediately with firmness, the fact remains that, as one of them told a newspaper, Ansari had strictly instructed them not to fire on the rioters as he would calm them down. While it was entirely wrong on their part to listen to Ansari, who has 36 criminal cases against him and a conviction under TADA and not act as they were required to under the law, the fact that his close links with Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was no secret must have influenced their judgement at a time when political patronage determines a bureaucrat's career profile more than efficient and honest work.
As Chief Minister, Mr Yadav cannot afford to have people like Ansari in a position where they can claim close proximity to him. Booking Ansari is not enough; Mr Yadav should also order his arrest. He must also expel from his party every person with criminal antecedents. Apart from the question of Ansari's culpability, nothing short of such a dramatic move can convince administrators that they should not bow to the dictates of criminals and act according to the law. Otherwise, the danger of the riots spreading to the rural areas or of other riots breaking out can hardly be ruled out. For, communal violence does not occur in a vacuum.
In the present instance it is significant that in all previous years, Bharat Milap had been celebrated with loudspeakers blaring Hindu devotional songs and the Hanuman Chalisa, despite the observance of Roza by Muslims. What prompted a section of Muslims to demand its postponement this year? And how could an argument over it lead to widespread violence? Mr Yadav will do well to ponder this and also reports of growing ISI and fundamentalist Islamist activity in Uttar Pradesh. <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Minority communalism is as repugnant a phenomenon majority communalism and needs to be dealt with firmly. Allowing it to grow will be disastrous as it not only feeds Islamist militancy but can also trigger a severe majority community backlash. </span>
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