'Govt made Tablighi Jamaat scapegoats, promoted malice and propaganda against Muslims,' says Bombay HC

'Govt made Tablighi Jamaat scapegoats, promoted malice and propaganda against Muslims,' says Bombay HC

Narsi BenwalUpdated: Saturday, August 22, 2020, 11:55 PM IST
article-image

The Bombay High Court embarrassed the BJP led Union government and reminded it of the concept of "Atithi Devo Bhava" (Guest is our God). The HC came down heavily on the Union government for making Tablighi Jamaat, a "scapegoat" and for trying to act against the promotion of universal brotherhood.


A bench of Justices Tanaji Nalawade and Mukund Sewlikar reminded the Union and the Maharashtra governments that respecting both religion and secular principles have kept India united since Independence.
The bench was dealing with petitions filed by around 35 foreigners - all members of Tablighi Jamaat. They urged the bench to quash the FIRs and the charge sheets filed against them, for allegedly breaching visa conditions during the lockdown, visiting and staying in Masjids.


The judges noted that these foreigners visited India in February and their visa conditions, nowhere, mentioned of any prohibition of visiting and staying in Masjids. The judges said it is only after a month of their visit to India that the lockdown was declared and they were left with no option but to live in Masjids.


In their strongly worded judgment, the bench also trashed the contention that these Jamaatis were responsible for spreading the virus in India as most they were all symptomatic and none contracted the virus before arriving here since every foreigner was screened at the airports under the supervision of the Union government.


"There was big propaganda in the media against the foreigners who had come to Markaz Delhi and an attempt was made to create a picture that these foreigners were responsible for spreading Covid-19 virus in India. There was virtually persecution against these foreigners," Justice Nalawade said in his judgment.


"A political government tries to find the scapegoat when there is pandemic or calamity and the circumstances show that there is probability that these foreigners were chosen to make scapegoats. The latest fgures of infection in India show that such actionagainst these persons should not have been taken and it is now high time for the concerned to repent about this action and to take some positive steps to repair the damage done by them," the judge has said further.


The bench further said that the government seems to have forgotten our culture of Athiti Devo Bhava.


"The circumstances of the present matter create a question as to whether we are really acting as per our great tradition and culture. During the situation created by Covid19 pandemic, we need to show more tolerance and we need to be more sensitive towards our guests particularly like the petitioners before us," the bench said, adding, "But instead of helping them we lodged them in jails."


The judges further said that if the contention of the prosecution was correct that Tablighi Jamaat was responsible for spreading of the virus, then they must have had sent all these foreigners back to their nations.
"Thus, the authorities could not have prevented these foreigners from offering prayers (Namaaz) or staying in the Masjids, especially because, such a condition wasnt imposed or mentioned by the relevant authorities while providing them their visa," the judgment authored by Justice Nalawade.


Malice Against Muslims For their Protest Against CAA, NRC
In its detailed judgment, the bench noted that there were foreigners of other religions too, who were in India even during the lockdown but no such action was taken against them.

The judges, accordingly, held that there was a malice and propaganda against Muslims and particularly the Tablighi Jamaat members. The judges opined that this action against Muslims was because of the community's vehement objection to Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).


"There were protests on large scale not only in Delhi, but in most of the states in India. It can be said that due to the present action (FIR against Tablighis) fear was created in the minds of those Muslims, to give a warning to Indian Muslims that action in any form and for any thing can be taken against Muslims," Justice Nalawade held.


"It was indicated that even for keeping contact with Muslims of other countries, action will be taken against them. Thus, there is smell of malice to the action taken against these foreigners and Muslim for their alleged activities," the judge added.


Tolerance Has Kept India United
In addition to all these observations, the bench reminded the Union government that India has been united till now only because of tolerance. It also noted that without making proper enquiry, the Union government sent back many foreigners, which is against maintaining universal brotherhood.


"Social and religious tolerance is practical necessity for unity and integrity in India and that is also made compulsory by our Constitution. By hard work over the past years after independence, we have reconciled religion and modernity to a great extent," the bench said.


"We have been respecting both religious and secular sensibilities since independence and by this approach we have kept India united," the judges added.

RECENT STORIES

Mumbai News: MahaRERA Only Real Estate Regulator To Recover ₹ 125 Crore From Developers In 14...

Mumbai News: MahaRERA Only Real Estate Regulator To Recover ₹ 125 Crore From Developers In 14...

Mira- Bhayandar: 9 Municipal And Private Schools Organise Educational Rally Promoting Voting...

Mira- Bhayandar: 9 Municipal And Private Schools Organise Educational Rally Promoting Voting...

Govinda Joins Shiv Sena: A Lookback At Actor's Political Journey

Govinda Joins Shiv Sena: A Lookback At Actor's Political Journey

Windsurfing Wonder: Mumbai's Naavya Kaku Maks Waves In National Sporting Arena

Windsurfing Wonder: Mumbai's Naavya Kaku Maks Waves In National Sporting Arena

Mumbai: Growel's 101 Mall Gets Second Notice From BMC To Hand Over Land For Development In Kandivali

Mumbai: Growel's 101 Mall Gets Second Notice From BMC To Hand Over Land For Development In Kandivali