Muslims fear blasts may foment trouble

MUMBAI: Muslim clerics and secular activists fear that Tuesday's serial blasts may spread anti-Muslim feelings, leading to communal riots in the city.
Representatives of Ulema Council, Jamiatul-ulemae-Hind, Raza Academy, Jamaat-e-Islami, Muslims for Secular Democracy (MSD) and a few other organisations met chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Thursday and expressed fear of a possible backlash against the community.While condemning the acts, the ulema showed solidarity with the investigating agencies' crackdown on the suspected perpetrators of the crime.
They also told the CM that there were reports of some residents being harassed in the city. "We are receiving complaints of Muslims being taunted in local trains and buses after the blasts. An atmosphere of hatred is being built against us," said Maulana Mehmood Daryabadi of the All-India Ulema Council.
Congratulating Mumbaikars' spirit, the delegation demanded punishment to those behind the blasts. "No Muslim can commit such inhuman acts. They might be using Muslim names, but they are not Muslims," said Jamiatul-ulemae-Hind's Maulana Mustaqeem Azmi.
The Muslim for Secular Democracy (MSD), which has joined hands with the Muslim clerics to condemn the terror acts, demanded equal treatment for the perpetrators of such crimes. "Why were the Nanded blasts not highlighted. The government and the media should be fair and unbiased in their treatment of acts of terror?" said MSD's vice-president Hasan Kamal.
Earlier, at a meeting called by the Movement for Peace and Justice (MPJ), senior advocate Yusuf Muchhala-also a member of All-India Muslim Personal Law Board-said anger at perceived injustices may have misguided some of Muslim youths. MPJ has promised help to the investigating authorities in nabbing the suspected terrorists. "We have asked our members to be vigilant and inform the administration if they find any suspicious characters," said Moazzam Naik, MPJ's president.