Shun extremist leaders, RSS tells Muslims

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Shun extremist leaders, RSS tells Muslims

By Our Special Correspondent

 

BANGALORE, MARCH 17. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) today

urged the Muslims of the country to come out of the clutches of

their extremist leaders and Hindu-baiters.

 

A resolution adopted at the three-day conference of the Akhil

Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of the Sangh, which concluded at

Chennenahalli, near here, today, said: ``Let Muslims understand that

their real safety lies in the goodwill of the majority.'' Although a

few Muslim leaders interpreted `jehad' as not supporting terrorism,

they had not been able to influence the extremist elements, it said.

``The Sabha wants to make it clear that it does no credit to the

Muslim community to allow itself to be made pawns in the hands of

extremist leaders,'' it added.

 

Describing the Godhra incident as ``horrible and ghastly'', the RSS

delegates said it had become imperative to present it in the proper

perspective. The reaction to the incident was spontaneous. The

entire Hindu society had reacted. It was unfortunate that a number

of people died in the violence.

 

But certain political parties in their greed to garner Muslim votes

turned a blind eye to the original action and protested only against

the reaction, linking it to the Ayodhya movement. This had hurt the

Hindu psyche deeply, they said.

 

Briefing presspersons on the resolutions, the RSS joint general

secretary, Madan Das, said Muslims would be safe in the country

provided they won the goodwill of the majority community. They had

to accept the law of the land ``which they are not doing now.''

``They should desist from provoking the Hindus.'' He regretted that

the life of Hindus had no meaning in India.

 

Plea to media

 

The RSS urged the media to report incidents in the right perspective

and help in promoting national harmony.

 

>From the reports in Gujarati newspapers and information from

impartial sources on the Godhra incident, it was clear that the

attack was unprovoked and premeditated, it said.

 

Around 2,000 persons, equipped with petrol cans, acid bulbs, swords

and stones, attacked the train. When the passengers closed the doors

to protect themselves, they threw petrol bombs inside a bogie,

setting it on fire.

 

The Sangh wanted the Centre to take tough measures against

Bangladesh, such as stopping the water flow from the Farrakka

barrage as a reaction to the atrocities on Hindus there.

 

It wanted the Government to demand creation of a separate homeland

for the Bangladesh Hindus if the Government failed to respond

positively. Such a demand would be in line with the one made by

Sardar Vallabhai Patel in 1949.