SIMI IS DANGEROUS TO INDIA’S EXISTANCE

Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao

Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) a banned Muslim outfit is again in the news. It was established on April 25, 1977 at Aligarh by Mohammed Ahnedullah Siddiqi. This organization has been knocking at the doors of courts in India to get the ban lifted to enable to continue its nefarious activities. . SIMI had 400 cadres and 20000 members when it was banned. It is believed that SIMI has entrenched itself in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Delhi. This organization has now spread throughout India and has attracted educated youth too at educational Institutions in all probabilities. They are identified with India- hate campaign and propagate that India was ruled by Muslims in the past and therefore is a Muslim land. They claim that it is under the occupation and rule of Hindus who are now in majority and therefore it needs to be made into Dar- Ul- Islam at all costs. They claim that as per the Holy Scripture Quran, conducting Jihad that is a rightful act and must liberate the lands belonging to Muslims that are under occupation more so because it was a pious religious activity sanctioned by the scripture (1). Thus Jihad by SIMI was the rightful activity as claimed by them who are no doubt are misguided. What a fallacy indeed?

Entire world knows that Indian sub continent was under the rule of Hindu kings from yore and it was subjected to invasions by parathions, Huns, Sakas, scythes, Bactrians and Greeks, from the western front across Hindukush mountains and all these invading tribes over years merged with Hindu population. After the rise of Islam in Arab lands, Muslims attacked India from Kabul and in 13 th century could establish Sultanate at Delhi who systematically went about destroying existing Hindu kingdoms. From then onwards fortunes fluctuated and Mughal dynasty ruled most parts of India from 1527 onwards but not without impunity. During Emperor Akbars rule, the empire was limited to upper India above Narmada River and during the last great Mughal Aurangzebs rule it spread downwards covering entire India. However this was short lived and this does not mean that India belonged to Muslims and the fallacy of SIMI is rather ridiculous (2).

In fact, Islam claims that Allah made entire world and therefore whole world belongs to Muslims and thus only Islam should prevail. Others can stay but under protection. For this, they have to pay some fees. Following are relevant in this context of conducting warfare against others that is much under controversy (3):

“ Kill idolaters (Mushrikee Meccans declared war against Mohammed and his community) wherever you find them and capture them and blockade them and watch for them at every lookout (9:5)”

“There is immunity from God and message of God for those polytheists (Mushrikeen) with whom you have made treaties, so travel the earth for four months and know that you can not elude God and that it is God who brings disgrace upon all who refuse to acknowledge the truth” (Sura 9:1-2).

“When the sacred months are past, kill idolaters wherever you find them, watch them at every lookout. But if they repent and practice prayer and give alms, then let them go their own way, for God is most forgiving, most merciful”(9:4).

“And let them not think, those are bent on denying the truth (non believer)-that they shall escape (God); behold they can never frustrate (His purpose). Hence, make ready against them whatever force and war mounts you are able to muster, so that you might deter, thereby enemies of God, who are your enemies as well and others beside them of whom God is aware., and whatever you may expand in cause shall be repaid to you in full and you shall not be wronged”. (8:59-60)

“As for those you have made a covenant and there upon break their covenant on every occasion, not being conscious of god if you find them at war (with you), make of them a fearsome example for those who follow them, so that they might take it to heart, or if you have reason to fear treachery for people (with whom you have made a covenant) cast it back at them in an equitable manner for verily, God does not love the treacherous” (8:50-59)

Above verses are quoted by people who criticize that Islam propagates Jihad. The above verses are misunderstood by a section of believers and Muslim scholars do not approve wanton acts of Jihad as claimed by the fundamentalists. In fact Islam means peace. How can such a religion preach violence as a scriptural doctrine? It is believed that Prophet Mohammed ordered action against those men who broke the treaties made with him and tormented him and his followers and these were not for general action against non-believers. But mischief-makers took advantage of the Suras and interpreted to their advantage and for waging jihad. This has been so in the past and in present too.

In India, the Muslim rulers in the past charged Zizia Tax from non-Muslims who were called Kafirs (4). But other religions do not approve this stand. The world is for every one and does not belong to any one individual or any one faith. This fallacy has resulted in rise of fundamentalism in Islamic world and Saudi Arabia based Wahhabi Sunni sect has cashed on this fallacy. The aspect of world belonging to Muslims has been used by the fundamentalists to inspire the youth who are misguided onto a path of confrontation with others as a part of Jihad and scores are loosing lives daily in wanton acts of aggression, terrorism and suicide bombings. The Fatwah issued by the notorious terrorists Osama Bin Laden was most inspiring to the misguided Muslims worldwide that stated:

The Fatwah Issued by Osama bin Laden said (5)

“The ruling of killing Americans and their allies whether civilians or military is incumbent on every Muslim who is able to and in whichever country is easier for him in order to liberate the Mosque of Al Aqsa and Mosque (Mecca) from their grip and control, their armies leave the lands of Islam, punished according to law broken and unable to threaten any Muslim. This is in accordance with the word of Allah.
“ Fight them until there is no sedition (temptation) and the religion becomes that of Allah.(2:193) and his word. And why don’t you fight for the cause of Allah and for the downtrodden men, women and children who say “Lord bring us out of this city whose inhabitants are unjust and grant us from you a protector and grant us from you a supporter (4:75)”

SIMI sadly fell victim to the misguided interpretations of the verses and is on a path of confrontation in India. The saddest part is that even educated youth with accomplished achievements in academics have fallen prey to such misgivings. Usually it is very common to note that evil and twisted versions of any scripture draw immediate attention of people than the sane teachings. It is believed that mans mind is more bent towards evil than good things.

In the latest alarming and sad development in India, The unlawful Activities (Prevention act) Tribunal has squashed the central notification banning SIMI stating that Government was unable to provide sufficient evidence to continue the ban. The ban on SIMI was being continued after every three years. The counsel for SIMI stated that the cases filed against SIMI were just fabricated ( 6). However the Supreme Court of India statyed the orders of the tribunal after Government of India warned of serious consequences if the outfit was allowed to operate with ban lifted. This was definitely a wise step by the government ( A rare step in the melee of pseudo secularism). Simi Chief Safdar Hussein Nagori arrested in March last year reportedly revealed that SIMI planned to take revenge against those who perpetuated crime saginst Muslims in Gujrat and Mumbai riots and those who engineered Babri Maszid demolition. As per him the outfits of SIMi led by Shibli, Hafz, Kamruddin, Ikrar sheikh, ans Shahwaz were being trained in the jungles of Simrol ( MP ) Hubli, , Ujjain ( Madhya pradesh) and Mumbai ( Maharshtra)( 7). The important point to note is that certain political parties such as Samajwadi party (SP) concentrated in Uttar Pradesh is hob knobbing with SIMI and reportedly trying to squash cases against the members of SIMI. This is surely a dangerous trend. SIMI no doubt has dangerous agenda on its cards and serious charges are pending against the members.

How foolish will be on the part of political parties to abet and support such terrorist outfit and they would be doing greatest harm to the nation and this has to be definitely arrested by the government. This also goes to prove that Indian political parties patronize criminals to a great extent and the news is true, SP is trying to build up its Muslim vote bank. It should be notified that any party or person who supports a terrorist outfit directly or indirectly would draw penal actions and such parties should be considered as abettors of terrorism and treason against the country. Should such partied be allowed to take part in nation building and political process? The answer automatically would be a definite NO. It is time to go strong against all such anti national organizations and save the country from destruction. Political parties that align with terrorist out fits should be banned and brought to book.

Bibliography

1. SIMI, Wikipedia,
2.Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao, SIMI on rise again, spreading fast and is a serious threat to India, faithcommons.org, April 14, 2008, 11:31
3. Holy Quran, Translation by M A Haleem Eliasii, English Translation by Abdulla Yousuf Ali, Al Ittehad publications, B 35, Basement, Nizamuddin west, New Delhi, India , Edition I, 2004
4. RC Majumdar, HC Roy Chaudhry, Kalikinkar Datta, An advanced History of India, Macmillan, St Martins press, New York, 1967
5. World Islamic front for Jihad against Zionists and Crusaders, Declaration of war from Al Quds Al Arabi Feb 23, 1998 as cited in David Cook, understanding Jihad, University of California Press, Berkley, Los angels, London, 2005, ISBN 0-520-244486, PP 173, 174 as cited in the article of Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Religious tolerance and Islam, faithcommons.org, November. 01, 2006, 12:01

6.Tribunal lifts ban on SIMI. Deccan chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, August 6, 2008, PP 1

7.Namrata Bijji Ahuja, SP support splits SIMI, Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, August 07, 2008, PP1

GENERAL REFERENCES

1. Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Strategic studies into Muslim fundamentalism, its rise in India and its growing threat to India’s security across the borders, Ph D Thesis, TIU, USA, 2003,

On faithcommons.org

2.Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Hyderabad, casino of terrorism and mischief in India. Faithcommons.org, May 26, 2007, 08: 24

3.Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao, India Embarrassed, July 17, 2007, 08:45

4. Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Pseudo secularism, Dec 28, 2007, 05:58

5. Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao, India and terrorism… What lacks here? June 04, 2008, 10:13

6. Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao Islam at cross roads, October 27, 2006, 10:29