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Peshawar civil society demands ban on Difa-e-Pakistan
Speakers at the protest say 'Hamid Gul and his partners responsible for the massacre of three million people.'
Activists of members of Difa-e-Pakistan Council hold flags as they shout anti-US slogans at the rally in Islamabad on February 20, 2012. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
PESHAWAR: Civil society in Peshawar took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against the Difa-e-Pakistan Council, demanding that a ban be imposed and the council be held responsible for the death of three million people.
“Hamid Gul and his partners are responsible for the massacre of three million people, in particular the Pashtuns,” said Idrees Kamal, convener of the Aman Tehreek – a conglomerate body of civil society. Kamal was speaking during a protest organised in the Hashtnagri area of Peshawar.
The Difa-e-Pakistan rally to be held in Peshawar on March 18 has caused a stir in the city.
“Previously the council gathered under the name of Difa-e-Afghanistan and Islam, killing thousands of innocent people. Now they have once against gathered to do so,” said speakers at the protest.
Protestors demanded that Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry should intervene and impose a ban on the rally. They also said that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti should not allow the council to hold a rally in the city.
The protest had been organised despite security threats and was attended by people from all walks of life.
Background
Difa-e-Pakistan Council is a coalition of over 40 religious and political parties that has been vocally demanding the government to keep Nato supply routes closed and withdraw its decision to grant India the status of most-favoured nation.
The first DPC rally was held in Lahore and was organised by Jamatud Dawa (JuD), whose leadership is in charge of coordination and communication between all members of the group. Rallies have also been organised in Karachi and Rawalpindi.
Calling for the Nato supply routes to stay closed, the DPC has several times, in their past rallies, threatened to besiege the parliament in case the government decides to reopen the routes.
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Reader Comments (81)
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I salute the Peshawar Civil society for requesting this ban.
Keep up the good work and I fully support your cause against the dreaded Dufa-e-Pakistan.
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Salute to the people of KP for taking a bold step….I hope other provinces will follow and draw these real enemies of the state out of here.Recommend
Hats off to Peshawarites!
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the people of peshawar should demand a ban on all religious fanatics.picking and choosing which fundos to support is not going to work.If people would stop supporting lashkar this and jamaat that,our country wouldn’t be in the sorry state it is in right now.
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Charming. Lets see how the politicians handle this one. They are scared of the mullah brigades.
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Woah. Excellent stuff!
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Awesome! Down with Hamid Gul and his fundo cronies!
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Great effort by Aman Tehrik and the civil society of Khyber Pukhtunkwa. Hope and pray for the safety of members of these protesters.
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What is wrong with their agenda???
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This picture is misleading. It seems as if these protesters are members of the civil society. And they are clearly not!
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I am strictly against Difa – e – Pakistan who I believe are no good but in a democratic state every body has the right to air their views and hold rallies. As long as they don’t start war mongering or give violent sermons they should not be banned as its against the fabric of a democratic society.
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Just who is this “civil society”? Oh ET, you’ve done it again!
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Brave people from peshawar make me so immensely proud!
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Bravo! Peshawar always beats the rest of the country. Za Pukhtoon Yam <3 :D
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Why not ban Civil Society, Peshawar ?
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Thank God Civil Society has waken up. Very well done and keep it up. Be the pioneer very soon people from all over the country will be joining you.
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BAN all Political Parties rallies .
especially Difa – e -Pakistan
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Excellent !
Finally someone had the courage to speak up
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This is an excellent move. Only such actions will be welcome by the World and well meaning Pakistanis.
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Although its very good move. But civil society should beware that they could be labelled as Indian/RAW agents.
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When they will protest against the Drone attacks???
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Well done Aman Tehrik and well done Pukhtuns of Peshawarites.
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finally some logic.
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Everyone has the right to Hold rallies any where if he fit into constitution of Pakistan. Civil societies don’t have any problems “ANP” is insecure with this!!
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@sick of this nonsense:
You contradict your statement by saying that any one preaching violence must be banned and then asking they shouldn’t be banned .. These religious from A to Z should be banned strictly as religious is personal matter .. If one does sin or good both acts will judged by Allah only, In that case no one should be allowed to force it down your throat, they are allowed to do their preaching in friday sermons.
There is no need to let them pollute our society and lives by holding rallies in which they openly carry guns and makes illogical statements. What else they have been doing from the past 60 years except calling death for every other country who’s name is not Islamic and making those their idols who have been killing their own people brutally e.g Saddam.
They are not religious and peaceful Islamic scholars but war mongers and their rallies are nothing but sermons of violence. In any developed democratic country half of these so called leaders would be hanged for having training camps and killing innocent people across the border.
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Yes. This Mullah Military Alliance “MMA” has destroyed Pakistan especially Pakhtuns and Shias and Punjab needs to act now before Pakhtuns also opt for demanding separate country like Baloch.Recommend
which civil society? In Pakistan the word “Civil Society” is used for an upper elite class which is financially stable.Which does not feel the heat of inflation. These people do not represent wishes of majority of ordinary people who struggle everydayto feed their families,pay bills,pay for education and health care. For them Civil Society and Difa e Pakistan Council are same.Civil Society only exists in news papers and has no place among ordinary people and same is true with Difa e Pakistan Council.Infact Difa e Pakistan could attracts more poor people than so called “Civil Society”.
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Phenomena like Difa-e-Pakistan and Zaid Hamid etc are inconsistent with the egalitarian and secular Pashtun society. Religious fundamentalism can never thrive among Pashtuns, only if the generals stay away from imposing militancy on them.
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The fact that this group is demanding a ban on the freedom of speech of another group is proof that latter (Difa-e-Pakistan) has a substantial enough audience for the former to be fearful. Since it is the case that they have a substantial audience, then it is totally unjust to demand a ban on Difa-e-Pakistan. It is the right of the people to air their views and to even fight invading forces if that is the public will….who the heck is this wretched civil society to try to suppress the rights of others?
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@Khan:
Did you see any training camps, this is just a propaganda. give evidence against them…
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A positve and very good outcry to the nation, which is of course is the need of the hour, has come out Peshawar. These Mullahs and army officials have destoried our sociity. The have turned over progressive and dynamic socity into a country of human bloodbath on the face of earth.
The time has come for the society to take firm stand against these passive and regressive forces and shun them forever. In addition to Goverment, the political fources and the civil society not only should support rather, we all must also shoulder our rsponsiblities to oust these criminal minds from our society.Recommend
@Elhaan Khan:
everyone has rights except a true Muslim, while he and his family extra judicially killed by a drone attack or by a bomb blast, and he is blamed as terrorist. Allah will soon destroy this system of injustice inshaAllah.
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Peshawar has lit the torch, let us see if rest of Pakistan follows. Imran Khan has repeatedly talked about ‘giving peace a chance’, the citizens of Peshawar are demanding the same. What would the Khan do?
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Civil society what?
So anyone from the secular-liberal elites/NGOs protesting (big or small) are called “civil society”? Some journalism there ET!
Oh and where were these heart-bleeding secularists-liberals when America invaded Pushtun heartland (Afghanistan)? Where were they when America was (is) carrying out extra-judicial killings (Drone strikes) in Pushtun Tribal Areas? Or when the Pak Army was carrying out military operations against the Tribals? I guess they haven’t received any “development” grant from the US State Department for those causes yet.
Huh! Fraud un-”civil society”!!!
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It is very seldom that you get any good news from Pakistan – this however is good news and shows that at least some in Pakistan will not let the mullah turn Pakistan into a gutter
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@A muslim: Inshallah Allah will first destroy the corrupt system of the mullah and their suicide bombers
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http://www.google.com.pk/search?hl=en&gl=pk&tbm=nws&q=peshawar+civil+society&oq=peshawar+civil+society&aq=f&aqi=d2&aql=&gssm=3&gsupl=88641l95822l0l96818l17l17l0l15l15l0l512l512l5-1l1l0
Why is ET the only paper reporting this news … trying to find more details but in vane …
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@Khan:
Have you read the Quran? it says very clearly that those Muslims who do not use judge according to the Holy Book are “not one of us[Muslims]“. So when you try to tell the world that Islam says this or that and that Islam is supposed to be between man and Allah alone, it would help if you read the Quran first. You would realize that the Quran does not support your position at all, in fact, it is quite the opposite.
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This is very interesting. Proves, perhaps, that goodness is not dead in Pakistan.Recommend
@Malatesh:
You said, “Although its very good move. But civil society should beware that they could be labelled as Indian/RAW agents.”
Now I know how Pakistan produces Indian/RAW agents for all occasions.
Anyone who talks sense must be a Indian/RAW agent. Very simple!
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@narayana murthy:
yes goodness is alive in india, where Kashmir unmarked graves hold thousands of bodies
,where destruction of mosque and churches is so common, where 3000+ innocent muslims killed i.e. in Gujrat by hindu extermists.
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There should be rallies against this organisation all over Pakistan and GOP must put a ban on holding any rally by Dif-a-Pakistan in future since internationally banned organisations are participating in these rallies which is also giving a bad name to the country besides encouraging them to mount more violent attacks in Pakistan.
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Admirable Civil Society and people of Peshawar!
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@A muslim: What happened in Balochistan? It was ten times worse, I’d think.
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@sam:
Brilliant insight ! You are absolutely right Sir !
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The organizers of this rally in Peshawar should spread the word. There should be a similar rally in every city where the Difa-e-Pakistan Council wants to hold its own rally.
This is the only way you can fight these people who are bent upon ruining the name of Pakistan and bring further misery to people. It is a good start which must be taken full advantage of.
Good wishes from India, and Best of Luck!Recommend
Whole nation is with you. Silent majority!!!!
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Let’s join our Pathan brothers and sisters. DeP should be banned on EARTH :D
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well done Peshawar! don’t allow the culprits to destroy our society again and again.
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@A muslim:
A-Z Muslims in India disagree with your earlier comment of all mosques in India being attacked. Babri Masjid was a sad incident. But by the way did you know Babri Masjid was not at all revered and was a relic until BJP took the stupid step to bring it to negative national attention. By the way, what does a Pakistani have to do with the conflict between a Indian Hindu and a Indian Muslim?? It is conflict between Indians..
Do mind to find out why were those Muslims in Godhra killed? Both sides are at equal fault – First thing that happened was a Muslim fanatic mob killed some 60 Hindu pilgrims by pouring kerosene on the train and setting it on fire. Then an angry Hindu fanatic mob avenged it by the rest of the riots followed. For those people who left back India 65 years ago, every Indian should be an alien. For those Muslims who chose to stay back in India, they chose to be pluralistic.
I know the word ‘Pluralistic’ and ‘Liberal’ in Pakistan are like abuses.
Turn within and find answers to questions within. Don’t try to find easy and biased answers by pointing fingers outside…….
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Not civil society but instead cia agents.
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Good to see one-sided comments. ET you can’t achieved what you wish for. Destruction is written in your fate along with all those ‘Freedom’ lovers
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The KP civil society had even rejected Zaid Hamid when he was running around Pakistan with his Ghazwa-e-Hind hate speeches. Now they have rejected DPC. As people who have faced the brunt of these strategic depth policies of establishment, they are not carried away and swayed by speeches by DPC unlike the Lahore, Karachi and Pindi elite.Recommend
I’m impressed Peshawar still has so many sensible people, and more importantly they are brave enough to come on streets.
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@sick of this nonsense: “I am strictly against Difa – e – Pakistan who I believe are no good but in a democratic state every body has the right to air their views and hold rallies. As long as they don’t start war mongering or give violent sermons they should not be banned as its against the fabric of a democratic society.”
Well but they ARE war mongering and hate mongering and giving violent sermons. So as per your OWN statement, it IS appropriate to ban them.BEcause both you and I agree that hate mongering, war mongering and encouragement of violence are unacceptable and do not constitute free speech.
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@Wisher: “@Khan:
Did you see any training camps, this is just a propaganda. give evidence against them…”
Their speeches are o you-tube. They are encouraging jehad against India and US. This IS war mongering.
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Finally a great news coming out of our country. Congrats to the great people of Peshawar and surrounding areas. If we do not stand up to these mullahs then forget about our future.
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@Ghairat Brigade:
Is ET also an Indian/RAW agent now?????
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This is a Pakistan’s ‘Spring Revelation’.
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Rest of Pakistan is sleeping, wait my countrymen and the fanatics will wake u up. We the people of KPK, Have always suffered but our determination is ever increasing, love u Pakhtun
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To all from Peshawar : Bold move, good luck and sincere wishes that you succeed where lot many of us failed to contain extremists.
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Afarin! To my fellow Pashtuns for standing up to the DPC. DPC is made up of a bunch of old war mongering, belligerent and their ideology is passe. Roger Daltrey once said, “We won’t get fooled again” and the Pashtuns have resoundingly refused to participate in this sham. BRAVO!Recommend
This is funny, DPC would draw more in Peshawar and has a legitimate claim at being “civil society” than this front “aman tehreek”. Will the aman tehreek ever hold a rally against the communist pashtun nationalists that are repsonsible for the killings of over 3 million pashtuns, or US forces, or even the Pak govt/anp/army with its ongoing ops and calls for more war in the pashtun heartland?
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@Wisher:
yes i have seen them, the whole world has seen them, you can also watch these in their own made cds and dvds, they will be easily available from any market.. o watch them on webRecommend
@ZYX:
Qur’an does supports khan’s logic, religion has nothing to do with politics, who are these religious leaders of us, whats their qualification to become our leaders, if they cant preach any constructive thing then they do not have any right to preach destructive thing, which my friend you are doing .. who are these mullahs.. this is a segment of our society which is fed on our wazifas and now they roam in SUV s, Mercedes ,BMW’s… where is all this money coming from…. first go and ask them about their financial assets then come and give some sane comments
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after reading the news and the comments by the diffrent participents one is amazed to see that still our killers are unite in the shape of mr hamed gul. Where is our C.J why he is still busy to empower our killers. Time is out of joint and know everyo one aware about the union. The ultimate goal of these unions are to creat unrest in the society and divide them on the name of religions and sects. .. This is the goal of the union it shuld be ban …Recommend
The purpose of Difa e pakistan councel is to creat unrest in our country. One is amazed to see that in recently this union is involved in the killing of thousands innocent lives on the name of religion. Their purpose is to divide nation into sects and creat violence through their trained agents.It is the responsibility of the government and SC to take notice and to stop them. Other wise one day we will captured in the hands of these capitalists agent. Their councel should must be ban.Recommend
sugar coated TALIBANS , it is action time against all the banned organisations….Recommend
@observer:
Make a cricket pun and change the topic to corruption.
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@Wisher:
Did you see any training camps, this is just a propaganda
Please fool some one else .. I am from Peshawar and I know reality of these religious parties .. but if you have doubts please go to Esha prayers and stay in mosque especially on Thursdays .. when tablighi Jam’at guys are there .. or stand outside Bagh e Naran after Eid prayers.Recommend
I salute to the civil society in Peshawar demanding a ban on proposed meeting of Difa-e-Pakistan council. Difa-e-Pakistan council has in fact endangered the defence of Pakistan. They are responsible bringing a bad name to Islam. Their philosophy and action has nothing to do with peace, they abhor peace, preach violence and are involved in killing their opponents. On top of that they have provided support to extreme right in the west. As a result millions of Muslims have already been killed and this process has no end in sight. It is the civic society of Pakistan which will defend Pakistan as a nation state ensuring equal rights for all citizen regardless of religion, color, ethnicity, language and social status.Recommend
I salute to the civil society in Peshawar demanding a ban on proposed meeting of Difa-e-Pakistan council. Difa-e-Pakistan council has in fact endangered the defence of Pakistan. They are responsible bringing a bad name to Islam and Pakistan. Their philosophy has nothing to do with peace, they abhor peace, preach violence and are involved in killing their opponents. On top of that they have provided support to extreme right in the west. As a result millions of Muslims have already been killed and this process has no end in sight. It is the civic society of Pakistan must stand up to defend Pakistan as a nation state ensuring equal rights for all citizen regardless of religion, color, ethnicity, language and province.Recommend
v all r wid peshawar civil societyRecommend
Liberalization of Peshawar underway….
A lot of extremists voice their opinions using their so called “democratic” right while at the same time they are paradoxically very much against the idea of democracy.
Say ‘NO’ to extremists. They have absolutely nothing to with Islam. Rather than teach peace and brotherhood, they exploit the poverty of the people they preach and ask them to kill without discrimination.
Say ‘YES’ to Islam and the peaceful and progressive message that it brings along with it. The Afghan (and other foreign) Mujahideen during the 1980′s were true Mujahideen. They went for Jihad and ensured that the blood of the innocent did not spill. So, Allah blessed them with victory and a super power was shattered. Now, these so called Mujahideen kill each other, kill innocent people (including children and women), ban education and destroy property.
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Peshawar: You are braver than all of us. You have shown us the way. Bravo.
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Few members of Aman Tehrik does not represent whole pakhtoons of peshawar.
And why they do not protest against drone attacks, Quran desecration and bad governance of PPP and ANP.
I will come DPC in Peshawar
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Wow! it means Pashtoons are waking up.. This Difa-e-Pakistan is why not holding raillies against killings of innocent people in Bomb blasts, destroying of schools and mosques, burning of Quran in mosques… They are absolutely supporting terrorists and 99% of the member parties are terrorist organization. This should be banned completely.
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when one person has delusion<he is mad
when a group has delusions they are called difa e pakistan
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Dear all listen carefully, you the liberals and the secular people will see the real face of the christians and jews after these religious groups will be finished. You people think that Europe and America are your friends but they will slaughter you after these religious people will not remain. You are explicitly commit to kufr by speaking like that. I want to ask you a question that is it a sin to talk for the defense of your mother land or for the defense of Muslim Umma???.
I believe that instead of these religious groups, people like you must be banned and if you are not agree with these religious groups then you should go to settle yourself in America and in Europe. Because Jihad will remain forever and you the friends of kufr cannot stop the Jihad.
It is very near that you people will be having beards and Tasbih in your hands by force and you will not have the courage to talk like that by the Grace of Allah.
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@Brave Pathan:
You are absolutely right. You must have your Difa-e Pakistan Council. You need it badly.
Any country whose Army only knows how to run away from the battle field or Surrender, needs such a council. Others can defend themselves without one.
Better luck in future.
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@A muslim:
where destruction of mosque and churches is so common, where 3000+ innocent muslims killed i.e. in Gujrat by hindu extermists.
This is how propaganda works in Pakistan…. There was one Babri Masjid incident in the entire history of independent India unlike innumerable such incidents in Pakistan that happen on a daily basis.
3000+ Muslims!!!!!!!!!! – You need to learn truth and therefore here is the truth – On 27 February 2002, the Sabarmati Express train was attacked at Godhra by a large Muslim mob as per a preplanned conspiracy. 58 Hindu pilgrims, mostly women and children returning from Ayodhya, were killed in the attack. This in turn prompted retaliatory attacks against Muslims and general communal riots on a large scale across the state, in which 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were ultimately killed and 223 more people were reported missing. Not just that lesser number of Muslims got killed than 3000. But the fact is both sides lost precious lives in the stupidity. And who are you to own Muslims in India? They have an identity of their own. They are ‘Indian’ Muslims. Unlike Pakistani Muslims who have brought lot of fame(!!!!!!!) to Islam, Indian Muslims have largely been productive……….Recommend