Your point that SIMI is muslim version of VHP may be right - at least momentarily. The difference here is secular hindus are very vocal about criticizing hindu fundamentalists where as the musilm moderates prefer silence when it comes to oppose fundaymental ideas coming out from their communit. Unfortuantely progressive muslims in India - (or worldwide for that matter) have no influence on leading their own community. That is why the muslim woman is still not getting what is rightfully hers - the community is also stopping the constitution from delivering its promise of eqality to its citizens. The muslims in india have the best possible mix - a society with eastern values powered by a domcracy. They should take advantage of it by making progress without being westernised. They can really be a role model for other muslim countries. But will they ever show the vision and pragmatism?
I am worried about muslim hard liners coming together at any point of time any where in the world - the first thing they want to do is put restrictions on us. So it is the responsibility of the government of India to safeguard what ever little freedom is left for a muslim woman.
Another useless article by a muslim correspondent. These fellows will always support their extremist organisations. Now this fellow is comparing SIMI with VHP and RSS. Had RSS and VHP were similar to SIMI this fellow would not have been living in this country writing this article.
The column has only muslims view, which is fine. It is important to listen to all the sides.
After reading, I am more convinced that SIMI needs to be banned.
It is unfortunate that people have misunderstood great organizations such as VHP and RSS. Fundamentalizam is not necessarily bad but what you fundamentaly belive in could be good or evil.
The very idealogy that says that nationalism is bad and fascist is an internal security threat. No country can survive without feeling of nationalism. The european countries went through this phase of strong nationalism during the early 1900.Nationalism becomes bad when it demands liberty and prosperity for its citizen or group at the cost of some other group.ButNationalism gives the citizens an ability to fight for the rights. I think, the case of Iraq today is because the people of Iraq have no feeling of nationalism. They are more concerned with their identity as a Kurd or Shia or Sunni. The movement of SIMI is a parasite that is eating into the vitals of the society by inculcating a feeling of anti nationalism in the Muslim population of India. In the long run,it will be catastrophic for the Indian Muslims as it will turn the Hindus firmly against them.There is a precedence of tough dealing with antinational pan Islamist. India just needs to look across the northern border to China. Just after the communist take over in China, the whole leadership of a pan Islamist organisation was finished off and till date the movement is dead.
Comparing SIMI to VHP is unfair and illogical. Let anyone show one poster that says Hinduism wants you to shed blood to propagate Hindu ideology. Let there be one single poster from VHP that tells anything against India or Nationalism. As quoted in the article, it is nothing wrong if they try to promote Islam. Every one right to do it in a Hindu majority country (only possible because Hindus are in majority). The problem and danger is when preaching of religion leads to cessation of the parts of the nation even if such ideas are propagated peacefully! VHP will never ever do anything that will break the country into pieces!
