Tablighi Jamaat Is Not Being Targeted Just Because It Was A Muslim Congregation
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2020-04-01 13:11:22
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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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The Tablighi Jamaat issue is becoming huge with so many angles, including the 'Muslim' angle, being projected over a simple issue of a religious place defying orders of the administration and making a mockery of social distancing and safety norms in these scary times. Those who are saying that the Jamaat is being targeted because it was a Muslim congregation should go back and see reports in the media that had raised questions about congregations at Hindu religious places and other religious and social gatherings all over India after the ban was put in place before trying to push Muslims in a seize mentality.
The Jamaat issue is being raised because of several positive cases and deaths that have been reported from among those who attended the meet. It is also in the news because there are speeches on YouTube in which the Maulana is heard saying that the administration is imposing restrictions on religious gatherings just to close down mosques. It is this kind of mentality that some Muslims must give up if they want to be treated fairly. They accuse the administration of singling them out because they are Muslims. Then they erroneously assume that the media is singling them out because of their religion? Yet, they do not talk about the mistake committed in flouted the norms. Do they seriously think that they will be let off if they play the minority card?
No one is targeting the Jamaat just for its religious affiliations. It is being targeted as it allowed foreigners on tourist visas to take part in the Jamaat, some even as speakers. It is being targeted because it allowed so many foreigners to stay together with Indians when it was known that foreigners must remain in self-isolation. It is being targeted (as were other Hindu and social functions) because it disregarded the Delhi government advisory of March 13 of prohibiting gathering over 200 people. It is being targeted because, despite calls for social distancing, it allowed 1400 hundred people to remain in a 6-storied dormitory and disregarded the Delhi police advice to vacate the building. It is being targeted because it flouted all norms and disregarded the safety of the people assembled there and also of the whole community. It is not that other such gatherings are not being targeted. But the Jammat is being targeted more because of the involvement of so many foreigners and also of Indians from all over the country. It is becoming a serious issue as state governments have now got to track all those who attended the Jamaat and also those who came in their contact after they returned to their respective states. Telangana and Tamil Nadu are already bearing the brunt of the Jamaat folly.
Any organization that thinks it will commit gross irregularities and then hide behind the "minority" tag to claim persecution is displaying a sick mentality. So are those who are trying to take up cudgels on its behalf. Those who allowed such gross flouting of norms and have endangered the lives of so many people all over India should be handed exemplary punishment. If people think that Hindu organizations which flouted norms have been let off should read media reports again. FIRs have also been lodged against them too. In any case, two wrongs do not make a right. The organizers of the Jamaat cannot escape punishments by crying persecution just because they belong to a minority community.
