NEW DELHI: The Naib Imam of the Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, has asked all Muslims to hoist black flags from their houses on Republic Day as a mark of Protest. Bukhari is a member of the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC), which is originally issued the boycott

Bukhari made his call known after a Press conference on Jan.14 went awry and ended in an argument with Janata Dal MP Meem Afzal, in whose house the briefing was taking place. When grilled on the boycott call, which was later denied by a fellow member of the AIBMAC, Zafaryab Jilani, Bukhari said, “Let them deny it in the open, there is no use in hiding and saying such things. People are being killed on the streets and we cannot stay quiet anymore.”

As he was saying this, Afzal, who was also present, interrupted to say that he was “not even taking it as a boycott.” “That is his statement, not mine,” Bukhari interjected. The angry exchange ended with Afzal making a weak attempt to make his point clear. “I have nothing against the Constitution as such but only against the celebrations on Jan.26.” He then shouted that the briefing was “not on behalf of the AIBMAC.” Afzal also said that he was “100% secular.” I am more secular then V.P.Singh, Ram Vilas Paswan, Narasimha Rao, Congress leaders and all the communists,” he burst out.

The briefing was meant to explain the duo’s experiences in Bombay where they were not allowed to go out of the airport complex. Bukhari said that the Shiv Sena was being allowed a free reign of terror to kill Muslims in Bombay. “I am going back to Bombay soon,” he thundered, adding that he had told the Prime Minister as much in a telephonic talk after Bukhani returned to Delhi.

Meanwhile another member of the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) Abu Barkat announced his dissociation from the Committee.

Addressing newsmen soon after the committee meeting, Barkat declared that the convenor of the Committee Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi who had given a call for the Republic Day boycott had no moral right to continue as a member of the parliament, since he is under oath to serve the Constitution. Barkat was addressing a press conference called by another former member of the AIBMAC, Jawed Habecb, who has constituted Qaum! Mushawarat Committee after resigning from the AIBMAC.

Barkat also severely criticized Owaisi’s suggestion to approach the United Nations on the issue of the demolition of Babri Masjid and the large study genocide of the community. He wondered how could the Muslims expect any help from a US dominated United Nations whose credibility on Muslims’ issue is doubtful anyway. Jawed Habeeb chipped in, “Imam saheb’s loose talk has already embarrassed and caused a Jot of humiliation to the Muslims. Instead of going to US, we would rather negotiate with Atal Behan Vajpayee and Murli Manohar Joshi.

The press conference was mostly Habeeb’s show where he let out full steam against the AIBMAC turning the Babri Masjid affair in to a Muslim issue. He considered it wrong to ask Muslims alone to agitate against the demolition of Babri Masjid and reminded that crores of Hindus have also condemned the demolition and the communal killings.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 22, 1993