Clerics call for peace as Lucknow simmers with sectarian violence.

As the old Lucknow simmered with violence in the last 24 hours, eminent clerics apprehend political angle in the violence. All of them appealed for peace and demanded a probe in the violence which has engulfed the old city. The clerics also have demanded from Election Commission to instruct the district officials for acting impartially and controlling the situation.

Imam Aishbagh Eidgah, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli termed it as an unfortunate development which has led to division between Shias and Sunnis. "There was no point of violence when both the sects are adhering to the agreement done in 1999. All the processions of both the sects passed away peacefully and some anti-social elements are involved in the violence," said Farangi Mahli. The cleric claimed that the violence has been instigated for political gains. "It happens every time during elections. Four years ago, similar violence was reported and three persons died during our procession. It is being managed by political masters for their benefit. There should be a threadbare probe and the master mind behind the incidents should be exposed," said Farangi Mahli.

President, Markazi Chand Committee (Shia), Maulana Saif Abbas also echoed same sentiments. "There is surely political twist to these incidents. There should be detailed enquiry in the whole incident," said Maulana Saif Abbas. He also claimed that his demand for imposing curfew was turned down by the District Magistrate (DM) AK Sagar. "When you are not able to control the violence and it has engulfed whole of old city. People are living with fear and getting injured and affected due to violence, it is better to impose curfew but DM ruled out the possibility," he said. Maulana Abbas even decried the DM for his callous attitude towards controlling the violence.

Spokesperson, All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLPB), Maulana Yasoob Abbas also smelled political conspiracy in the violence. "There was no need of violence when the procession had passed. There is some conspiracy in these incidents," he said. Maulana Yasoob even decried the police alleging one sided action by beating Shia youths. "Police is acting in a partisan and targetting only Shias. District administration has failed to act swiftly," he said. He however stated that clamping curfew will create more problems.

As the Imam-e-Juma for Shia, Maulana Kalbe Jawwad was not in Lucknow, a group of Shia clerics assembled at his residence and issued an appeal for maintaining peace. It was attended by Maulana Feroze Abbas, Kalbe Hussain of Muslim Jagriti Manch and Shameel Shamsi of Hussaini Tigers.

Shamsi even claimed that the violence was on expected lines as a Shia cleric had held meetings with Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders recently. "We were apprehensive that violence was inevitable after their conspiracy. We want a detailed probe in the whole incident within eight days to expose the wolf among the sheeps. Else Maulana Kalbe Jawwad will lead an agitation and court arrest along with other clerics," said Shamsi.

Courtesy: Faisal Fareed, TCN