Indian democracy unfair to Muslims: Shabana Azmi
.
NEW DELHI: Although Muslims are safer in this country than in other parts of the world because they have a stake and space in Indian democracy, Indian democracy is unfair to Muslims, says Shabana Azmi, actor and former MP.
In an interview to a private TV channel, Azmi said, "I think there is not enough understanding of the fact that in a democracy how you treat the security of the minority must be a very important part for the success of a democracy. You can't only make token gestures and actually let them be in the state that they are as the Rajinder Sachar Committee report shows. So what happened is token gestures are made but real issues are never addressed."
Shabana Azmi said Indian politics has been unfair to Muslims and despite Indian secularism Muslims are discriminated against.
She said she couldn't buy a house in Mumbai because she was a Muslim. "I wanted to buy a flat in Bombay and it wasn't given to me because I was a Muslim and I read the same about Saif (Ali Khan). Now, I mean, if Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi cannot get a flat in Bombay because they are Muslims, then what are we talking about?"
Questioned about the Kashmir violence having a wider communal ramification elsewhere in the country at present, she said, "That's why I am so distressed over what is happening in Kashmir. For heaven's sake it should be brought to a stop and it should have been brought to a stop right when they started that nonsense."
But she agreed that it was the responsibility of the Muslim leadership to change the image of their community. "I don't think that the Muslim leadership has bothered to clear the air about what Islam actually is."
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Comments :
Vembanattu,Bahrain,says:I am not surprised by the outburst of Shabana Azmi. We had earlier similar expression by other famous people who fluorished in India and earned our respect and love. We have treated them as our borthers/sisters and as Indians and not on the basis of their religion. Many people were not even aware that they are minority comunity members. Its obvious that they are falling prey to the sick mentality demonstrated by the majority of Indian Minority community leadership and corrupt politicians like Arjun Singh, Lalu Yadav, Mulayam Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, Mayawati, Sonia Gandhi, Karunanidhi and Prakash Karat. The majority of their people mostly madrasa educated succumb to the false propaganda of these self serving politicians and political parties who wanted to keep them out of the Indian mainstream society to exploit them. Unfortunately these brothers have not realized the game plan of these unscrupulous gang of politicians who shed only crocodile tears for them. It is not our fault that he continuing terorirts activities and other anti national activities are carried out mainly by members of one particular community even after enjoying the fruit of democracy for 61 years. The number of innocent lives lost in Mumbai blasts and all subsequent blasts are all engineered by one minority community is an indication of irrelevance of their community intellectuals and leadership. This community is slowly slipping in to the hands of the terrorists and antinationals. Those who cry for better treatment for the minority community has not expressed any sympathy or shock for the innocent victims of the Kashmir violence or the hundreds of bomb blasts, forget about Pakistan or Bangladeshi Hindus whom are endangered species today. The Amarnath shrine row is just another classic example of the intolerance of this community who are encouraged by anti India elements within and outside our country. Hence Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar and like them should ponder over their one sided and totally unjustified and and unacceptable outburts. The people of India will never forgive such insult to their social, cultural and democratic credentials. We don't need lectures but action to reform your community if you are sincere in your feelings. This wide spread disease in that community needs emergency treatment.[17 Aug, 2008 1415hrs IST]
Voice,Dubai,says:Lets not forget that Mr. Abdul Kalam was President of India, Mr. Mohd. Azaruddin was capatin of Crickte team, Mr. Mr.Javed was ex-joint commission of police. and above all Mrs. Azami was MP, what else you want to hear. India provides best to them and India hears statement like this from them ? Vane Mataram god please save my country[17 Aug, 2008 1404hrs IST]
Ranjan,KSA,says:Its good that Shabana had acknowledged in her last para that muslim leaders are not doing enough. In fact the main stream politicians are creating more division than cementing it. Only yesterday, the home minister of Kerala, Mr. Balakrishnan, spoken very correctly that only a MINORITY amongst the MINORITY COMMUNITY creating all these nuisance and it should be dealt with without showing any liniency. [17 Aug, 2008 1349hrs IST]
niraj,gujarat,says:She being able to express her view, is the greatest greatness of our country. In a muslim country a non muslim would have been beheaded if he had dared to speak up against the majority. How come she disappeared and not a single of her types protested in the recent bombings in amdavad, banglore etc. How come she did not have a great heart to tell the mullas to let the hindus have some land at amarnath. Why do her types only expect us to make sacrifices.If she does not like staying here she can migrate to a more fairer country.[17 Aug, 2008 1321hrs IST]
Anirban,UAE,says:I would like to respond to Shabana Azmi's charges... First of all is there any country in the world with more than 80% Muslims (except Turkey) and is a secular country that gives more voice to its minority compared to majority. Has Shabana asked herslef or her community to dispel the folowing notions... For Muslims religion takes precedence over Country They are there to grow in number so that they can outnumber Hindus Most go and study in Madrasaa's where they are not given mainstream education and without which how can she expect such children to get employment. Finally regarding housing... its been always a Muslim who has bombed India never a Hindu and hence it is understandable the fear that people have. People don't want to give a house on rent and then discover that they have been giving shelter to a terrorist even if it just constitutes may be o.1% of the Muslim population. Hence instead of pointing fingers at others she needs some self -introspection for herself and her community. [17 Aug, 2008 1320hrs IST]
Naveen,India,says:How Dare You!! How Dare You!! You shall never be forgiven for this. I could not even write answers to your points because of my extreme anger[17 Aug, 2008 1247hrs IST]
ravi,mumbai,says:Mrs.Shabana Azmi should also know about what is happening to Kasmir Pandits in the same Democracy while talking about this [17 Aug, 2008 1227hrs IST]
Sushil Seli,Chandigarh India,says:It is extremely distressing and disappointing to hear people like Shabana talk in these tones. One thing must be made very clear that as long as Indian Muslims identify themselves as Muslims and not as Indians first they will continue to be looked upon with doubt and suspicion by the rest of the Indian population. And people like Shabana and other so called "concerned citizens" only add fuel to fire with their biased and one-sided views. If Indian Muslims feel that Indian democracy has been unfair to them after 61 years of freedom then perhaps it is time for them to introspect. I believe that it is Indian democracy that has allowed persons like Shabana, Javed Akhtar and Saif Ali Khan to become what they are and certainly they would never have been able achieve this under an Islamic dispensation. The adjacent neighbours are an example towards this. I would request Shabana that instead of making a hue and cry about the state of Indian Muslims she must come out with action programs for their awareness and upliftment. It is easy to become armchair critics than be there on the ground.[17 Aug, 2008 1205hrs IST]V C Varghese,Saudi Arabia,says:This is for information to Ms. Shabna Azmi. I do not think that for geting a flat in Mumbai is a big problem and an finished dream of that sort caused her feel terrible. In case she wants I can gladly sell her my own flat in a sea side location in Juhu. I feel ashamed that a prominent personality of her stature feels insecure in a country like India.[17 Aug, 2008 1148hrs IST]
manjit singh,amritsar,says:Shabana has forgotten that this country was divided on religious lines , where as pakistan & bangladesh has prosecuted religious minority systematically to reduce their numbers ( In pakistan minority population has decreased from 13 % to 3 % & in Bangladesh from 27% to 13 % ) on other hand muslim population has incresed from 11 % to 14 % in india.Muslims community must lead in isolating the terrorist by issuing fatwa againt them & giving stern message to pakistan to handover occupied kashmir to india . In this way they can prove that they are as nationalists as other communities are , secondly they need to work on scientific education for their community , why cannot shabana azmi lead this ?[17 Aug, 2008 1022hrs IST].
NEW DELHI: Although Muslims are safer in this country than in other parts of the world because they have a stake and space in Indian democracy, Indian democracy is unfair to Muslims, says Shabana Azmi, actor and former MP.
In an interview to a private TV channel, Azmi said, "I think there is not enough understanding of the fact that in a democracy how you treat the security of the minority must be a very important part for the success of a democracy. You can't only make token gestures and actually let them be in the state that they are as the Rajinder Sachar Committee report shows. So what happened is token gestures are made but real issues are never addressed."
Shabana Azmi said Indian politics has been unfair to Muslims and despite Indian secularism Muslims are discriminated against.
She said she couldn't buy a house in Mumbai because she was a Muslim. "I wanted to buy a flat in Bombay and it wasn't given to me because I was a Muslim and I read the same about Saif (Ali Khan). Now, I mean, if Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi cannot get a flat in Bombay because they are Muslims, then what are we talking about?"
Questioned about the Kashmir violence having a wider communal ramification elsewhere in the country at present, she said, "That's why I am so distressed over what is happening in Kashmir. For heaven's sake it should be brought to a stop and it should have been brought to a stop right when they started that nonsense."
But she agreed that it was the responsibility of the Muslim leadership to change the image of their community. "I don't think that the Muslim leadership has bothered to clear the air about what Islam actually is."
-------------------------------------
Comments :
Vembanattu,Bahrain,says:I am not surprised by the outburst of Shabana Azmi. We had earlier similar expression by other famous people who fluorished in India and earned our respect and love. We have treated them as our borthers/sisters and as Indians and not on the basis of their religion. Many people were not even aware that they are minority comunity members. Its obvious that they are falling prey to the sick mentality demonstrated by the majority of Indian Minority community leadership and corrupt politicians like Arjun Singh, Lalu Yadav, Mulayam Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, Mayawati, Sonia Gandhi, Karunanidhi and Prakash Karat. The majority of their people mostly madrasa educated succumb to the false propaganda of these self serving politicians and political parties who wanted to keep them out of the Indian mainstream society to exploit them. Unfortunately these brothers have not realized the game plan of these unscrupulous gang of politicians who shed only crocodile tears for them. It is not our fault that he continuing terorirts activities and other anti national activities are carried out mainly by members of one particular community even after enjoying the fruit of democracy for 61 years. The number of innocent lives lost in Mumbai blasts and all subsequent blasts are all engineered by one minority community is an indication of irrelevance of their community intellectuals and leadership. This community is slowly slipping in to the hands of the terrorists and antinationals. Those who cry for better treatment for the minority community has not expressed any sympathy or shock for the innocent victims of the Kashmir violence or the hundreds of bomb blasts, forget about Pakistan or Bangladeshi Hindus whom are endangered species today. The Amarnath shrine row is just another classic example of the intolerance of this community who are encouraged by anti India elements within and outside our country. Hence Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar and like them should ponder over their one sided and totally unjustified and and unacceptable outburts. The people of India will never forgive such insult to their social, cultural and democratic credentials. We don't need lectures but action to reform your community if you are sincere in your feelings. This wide spread disease in that community needs emergency treatment.[17 Aug, 2008 1415hrs IST]
Voice,Dubai,says:Lets not forget that Mr. Abdul Kalam was President of India, Mr. Mohd. Azaruddin was capatin of Crickte team, Mr. Mr.Javed was ex-joint commission of police. and above all Mrs. Azami was MP, what else you want to hear. India provides best to them and India hears statement like this from them ? Vane Mataram god please save my country[17 Aug, 2008 1404hrs IST]
Ranjan,KSA,says:Its good that Shabana had acknowledged in her last para that muslim leaders are not doing enough. In fact the main stream politicians are creating more division than cementing it. Only yesterday, the home minister of Kerala, Mr. Balakrishnan, spoken very correctly that only a MINORITY amongst the MINORITY COMMUNITY creating all these nuisance and it should be dealt with without showing any liniency. [17 Aug, 2008 1349hrs IST]
niraj,gujarat,says:She being able to express her view, is the greatest greatness of our country. In a muslim country a non muslim would have been beheaded if he had dared to speak up against the majority. How come she disappeared and not a single of her types protested in the recent bombings in amdavad, banglore etc. How come she did not have a great heart to tell the mullas to let the hindus have some land at amarnath. Why do her types only expect us to make sacrifices.If she does not like staying here she can migrate to a more fairer country.[17 Aug, 2008 1321hrs IST]
Anirban,UAE,says:I would like to respond to Shabana Azmi's charges... First of all is there any country in the world with more than 80% Muslims (except Turkey) and is a secular country that gives more voice to its minority compared to majority. Has Shabana asked herslef or her community to dispel the folowing notions... For Muslims religion takes precedence over Country They are there to grow in number so that they can outnumber Hindus Most go and study in Madrasaa's where they are not given mainstream education and without which how can she expect such children to get employment. Finally regarding housing... its been always a Muslim who has bombed India never a Hindu and hence it is understandable the fear that people have. People don't want to give a house on rent and then discover that they have been giving shelter to a terrorist even if it just constitutes may be o.1% of the Muslim population. Hence instead of pointing fingers at others she needs some self -introspection for herself and her community. [17 Aug, 2008 1320hrs IST]
Naveen,India,says:How Dare You!! How Dare You!! You shall never be forgiven for this. I could not even write answers to your points because of my extreme anger[17 Aug, 2008 1247hrs IST]
ravi,mumbai,says:Mrs.Shabana Azmi should also know about what is happening to Kasmir Pandits in the same Democracy while talking about this [17 Aug, 2008 1227hrs IST]
Sushil Seli,Chandigarh India,says:It is extremely distressing and disappointing to hear people like Shabana talk in these tones. One thing must be made very clear that as long as Indian Muslims identify themselves as Muslims and not as Indians first they will continue to be looked upon with doubt and suspicion by the rest of the Indian population. And people like Shabana and other so called "concerned citizens" only add fuel to fire with their biased and one-sided views. If Indian Muslims feel that Indian democracy has been unfair to them after 61 years of freedom then perhaps it is time for them to introspect. I believe that it is Indian democracy that has allowed persons like Shabana, Javed Akhtar and Saif Ali Khan to become what they are and certainly they would never have been able achieve this under an Islamic dispensation. The adjacent neighbours are an example towards this. I would request Shabana that instead of making a hue and cry about the state of Indian Muslims she must come out with action programs for their awareness and upliftment. It is easy to become armchair critics than be there on the ground.[17 Aug, 2008 1205hrs IST]V C Varghese,Saudi Arabia,says:This is for information to Ms. Shabna Azmi. I do not think that for geting a flat in Mumbai is a big problem and an finished dream of that sort caused her feel terrible. In case she wants I can gladly sell her my own flat in a sea side location in Juhu. I feel ashamed that a prominent personality of her stature feels insecure in a country like India.[17 Aug, 2008 1148hrs IST]
manjit singh,amritsar,says:Shabana has forgotten that this country was divided on religious lines , where as pakistan & bangladesh has prosecuted religious minority systematically to reduce their numbers ( In pakistan minority population has decreased from 13 % to 3 % & in Bangladesh from 27% to 13 % ) on other hand muslim population has incresed from 11 % to 14 % in india.Muslims community must lead in isolating the terrorist by issuing fatwa againt them & giving stern message to pakistan to handover occupied kashmir to india . In this way they can prove that they are as nationalists as other communities are , secondly they need to work on scientific education for their community , why cannot shabana azmi lead this ?[17 Aug, 2008 1022hrs IST].