Babri Masjid demolition act of religious fanaticism: HM

Syed Zishan Haider
Deoband (UP), Nov 3 (PTI) Terming demolition of Babri
Masjid as an act of religious fanaticism and extreme
prejudice, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said
communalism in all its forms was deplorable and asserted that
it was the duty of the majority community to protect the
minorities.
He also said that adopting the path of violence in the
name of religion must be deplored.
In an address to the 30th general session of Jamiat
Ulama-i-Hind at Islamic seminary Deoband here in the northern
state Uttar Pradesh, Chidambaram hailed the 'fatwa' issued by
it against terrorism last year and said it was not only
Muslims but also for all right thinking people to follow it.
"While all manifestations of communalism are deplorable,
the worst kind of communalism is unleashing communal
violence," he said.
The Home Minister said violence and violent means to
achieve any objective is the anti-thesis of a civilised
society governed by the rule of law.
"The demolition of the Babri Masjid was a manifestation
of religious fanaticism and an act of extreme prejudice.
Likewise, taking to the path of violence in the name of
religion must also be deplored in unequivocal term," he said.
Chidambaram said he was glad to note that the Darul
Ulloom at Deoband issued a 'fatwa' against terrorism on
February 25, 2008 and categorically stated that 'Islam rejects
all kinds of unwarranted violence, breach of peace, bloodshed,
killing and plunder and does not allow it in any form'. (More)
PTI