New Delhi (December 11, 2011): A statement by Shabnam Hashmi, Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD), Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Editor, Milli Gazette, Javed Anand, Citizen for Peace and Justice (CPJ), Manisha Sethi, Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association (JTSA), Kavita Srivastava, People’s Union for Civil Rights (PUCL), Lateef Mohd. Khan, Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee (CLMC) and others condemned India Islamic centre for hosting Maulana Jauhar Award to Jagdish Tytler, an organizer of genocidal violence against Sikhs.
“Maulana Mohd. Ali Jauhar Award to Jagdish Tytler, an accused of 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom, is an insult to the award. Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar was a key figure of the Indian freedom movement, a leader of the Khilafat movement and one of the founders of Jamia Millia Islamia. Hence, it is sad that the name of Maulana Mohd. Ali Jauhar is being misused. We are sure this is not how he would have liked his name to be remembered, and that he would not have approved of being used to white-wash the sins of a politician who was part of communal violence and mayhem in the capital of India” read the statement released on December 8, 2011.
The ‘logic’, extended by the organiser and some of the awardees, since no court of law has found Tytler ‘guilty’ till date, there nothing wrong in honouring him is really farce. Should we understand, it is like since no court of law has found Narendra Modi ‘guilty’ till date for Gujarat genocide against Muslim, there is no harm in honouring him as well? Like Modi’s role in Gujarat Genocide, the role Tytler in the anti-Sikh pogrom of 1984 is an open secret, added the statement.
It is also regrettable that an award being given by some of the members of a minority (Muslim) community is honouring someone who has played a key role in the victimisation of another religious (Sikh) minority. It should also be a matter of shame for those who are sharing it with him. If the Citizens, especially Muslim awardees, are so insensitive towards the Sikh community, it is a matter of great shame.
While we condemn the organiser for choosing Tytler among the list of awardees, we also condemn India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, for hosting it. And once again appeals to the distinguished individuals, who are participating in this function either as an awardees or guest, to boycott it as a matter of protest.