Congratulations on a calm and reasoned response to a not-so-calm diatribe from Rajan Parrikar. Unfortunately, the favourite bug bear/pin cushion - the Indian Muslim - is back to the fore for the hotheads.
My puzzle is : where were all the placard holders, letter writers, media stars, commandos, blame games, resignations, cabinet reshuffles, and God knows what else when people not privileged, as Rajan Parrikar is, to belong to a majority community, became targets of state/saffron terrorism? Where too were the placard-holders and the indignation when Christians and their churches were the target of saffron terrorists? Let's face it - they were all silent. Your readers, as much of the western world, wonder at the “silence” on the part of Muslims after the Mumbai attacks. Muslims too are baffled by the world's silence over the state terrorism that targeted thousands of Muslims in India and Palestine . Take Kashmir. Amnesty International reports that more than 8,000 persons have gone missing in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989. Graves of at least 940 people have been discovered in Uri district alone. Women “sympathisers of militants” are regularly raped by Indian forces. Human Rights Watch has catalogued civilian massacres. Further, villagers are called to assemble for an identification parade in front of hooded informers. Those pointed out are taken away for torture or shot. To raise questions like these is to be considered "unpatriotic". But is it unpatriotic to stand up for the decent treatment of your countrymen? If your readers have any doubts, they may like to watch the following videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKZNv4bDcEs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkQCmf-K60o In Gujarat in 2002 and Mumbai in '92-'93, thousands of Muslims, including children, were dragged out of their homes, beaten - gang raped in the case of women - and burnt alive with policemen and politicians watching on and joining in. The guilty continue to hold high positions in opposition, police and government. The world also stands by as Israel continues its illegal occupation of Palestine and the suppression of its people. Honestly, were any of these crimes reported or commented on as the Mumbai or New York attacks were? I think all of us only voice our concern when our own community becomes the target of terrorism. Warmest regards, David (Albuquerque) Start your day with Yahoo!7 and win a Sony Bravia TV. Enter now http://au.docs.yahoo.com/homepageset/?p1=other&p2=au&p3=tagline
