Council of Indian Muslims (UK)

British Indian Muslims and the family of late MP Ahsan Jafri who was dismembered alive by extremist Hindus during the genocide of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002, have thanked and congratulated two German MPs, Ute Granold and Pascal Kober, for their courage and honesty in deploring the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in the state and expressing concerns on the ongoing discrimination against religious minorities there.

After a visit to Gujarat earlier this month, ruling Christian Democratic Union's Ute Granold and her colleague Pascal Kober from the Free Democratic Party, observed that not everyone in India was entitled to protection under the rule of law and to choose their religion freely. The two member delegation referred Modi as a “dictator” and drew parallels between Gujarat under Modi and Germany under Hitler.

In a letter addressed to German Chancellor Ms Angela Merkel Chairman of Council of Indian Muslims—CIM (UK) Mr Munaf Zeena praised and thanked the two MPs for their, “objective and honest conclusion and views fearlessly expressed on human rights situation in the Indian state of Gujarat endorsing the European Union’s decision to declare state’s Chief Minister Narendra Modi persona non grata.”

Zeena referred to a leaked report by the British High Commission in Delhi in which, according to the BBC, a senior British High Commission official in India who reported on these riots to the Foreign Office in London wrote: these pogroms "had all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing and that reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims is impossible while the chief minister remains in power." And, "far from being spontaneous, it was planned, possibly months in advance, carried out by an extremist Hindu organisation with the support of the state government." http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1951000/1951471...

Zeena also attacked Mr Zafar Sareshwala, a Muslim businessmen who has businesses in UK and Gujarat, for defending Modi and criticising the German MPs. “As for the defence of Modi by one or two Muslim businessmen in Gujarat” Zeena went on, “less said the better about them (and history is replete with such cases) as they had agreed to bargain their conscience for some petty financial interests as long as 2003 and have no standing and credibility among the Muslims in Gujarat or elsewhere in India”

Mr Sareshwala had welcomed and met Narendra Modi in London in 2003. Zeena mentioned a special report published in the English language fortnightly of Delhi, The Milli Gazette (http://www.milligazette.com/dailyupdate/2003/20030823.htm) in which the real motives of Mr Sareshwala’s support to Modi were exposed.

In addition to CIM, the family of Ahsan Jafri has also praised the two German MPs.

A letter sent to the German Chancellor and signed by the late MP’s son, Zuber Jafri; daughter, Nishrin Hussain; son-in-law, Najid Hussain and grandson, Tauseef Hussain, said, “Indian Government’s defence of their democratically elected Chief Minister and statements by the likes of Sareshwala notwithstanding, Mr. Modi’s crimes against humanity are beyond doubt. As the legal noose is tightening around him, he is trying desperately to get out of it. He has done everything to subvert the course of justice in Gujarat. Several cases for justice had to be moved out of Gujarat State via directives of the Supreme Court. The attempt of maligning MP Ute Granold and Pascal Kober is in line with that desperate effort and known tactics employed by Mr. Modi since last eight years.

“In petitioning Germany on your MP’s statement, Government of India is only doing what may be called their legal obligation. It has nothing to do with their own view about the crimes of Mr. Modi. Sareshwala’s defence of Modi, however, is out of his own selfish interests. His motive had been long exposed ...A dictator who kills a few thousands also spares a few who end up providing him the badge of kindness that may help him escape punishment. Mr. Sareshwala is one of those few who had been spared and now doing his part of bargain.

“There may also be a few, who having been long denied justice in Gujarat, have lost faith in our justice system. Afraid of further violence, they have accepted a second class citizenship in their own land out of fear. They may also join the voices praising Mr. Modi and condemning brave Parliamentarians Ute Granold and Pascal Kober. But rest assured, there are other 200,000 who having been subjected to serious violations of human rights and denied justice by Mr. Modi are still seeking justice from our legal system. Jafri family is one of them.

“We applaud the courage your MPs have shown and commend your determination in helping the course of justice in Gujarat. That determination and courage are the valuable source of strength for the thousands of victims of Gujarat massacre who are working towards getting justice for their losses.”