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SIMI sees J&K as an international problem

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

The Students Islamic Movement of India, which has of late been in the spotlight for its alleged involvement in a series of bombs blasts in Uttar Pradesh, is opposed to democracy "in its existing Western-oriented form."

The organisation favours a return to the centuries-old caliphate system that once provided governance in the Islamic world.

The organisation sees Jammu and Kashmir as an international problem and believes that Osama bin Laden has been wrongly labelled a terrorist by the United States of America.

SIMI secretary general, Safdar Nagauri, who was in Lucknow to pep up the morale of his activists, told rediff.com in an interview that democracy in its existing form has turned into a farce, since vested interests are being allowed to dominate the society. "Ordinary man's voice is crushed and undeserving people manage to grab key positions."

SIMI, which has its roots in Aligarh Muslim University, has as many as 150,000 members spread across several states, including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Maharastra and Tamil Nadu.

"Caliphate or the Khalifa system is the most ideal means of governance for any state," Nagauri said, but admitted that "such a system is not in existence even in Islamic nations today."

Denying that he was trying to impose the Islamic form of governance, Nagauri said: "Islam is against any form of coercion...I am only expressing my academic point of view and would wish to throw open a debate on the subject."

Nagauri criticised the Uttar Pradesh regime for its recent crackdown on SIMI activists. "Our boys are being framed," he alleged.

When his attention was drawn to the confessions made by some of the arrested SIMI activists about their association with Kashmiri militant body Hizb-ul Mujahideen, he shot back: "Physical torture by the police can force words into one's mouth."

The SIMI leader declined to make any categorical statement on what the organisation felt about the status of Kashmir. He preferred to beat around the bush when this scribe sought to know whether he regarded Kashmir as an integral part of India.

"Kashmir is a vexed issue and it is hightime that a permanent and long-lasting solution is thrashed out -- after all the problem has been there for 50 years," he said.

He, however, made it clear that he did not conform to the Indian government's view on the issue.

"Kashmir is being shared in parts by India, Pakistan and China, so no solution is possible without considering the problem in its totality and with an open mind," he said and added that "what is of utmost importance is that the viewpoint of the Kashmiri people should also be taken into account."

Rejecting the description of Osama Bin Laden as an International terrorist, Nagauri said: "Laden has already denied his involvement in any kind of terrorist activity. Must we disbelieve him and term him as a militant simply because such a label has been given to him by an imperialist USA?"

He said the US is against Laden simply because he had dared to oppose the presence of the US army in the land of the Prophet - Saudi Arabia."

Nagauri denied reports in a section of the media about his having circulated cassettes of Osama bin Laden's speeches in Kanpur.

Surprisingly, Nagauri appeared reluctant in condemning Pakistan for unleashing terrorism in India. It was only after being grilled on the question of Pakistan's involvement in this grave menace that he remarked: "Well, SIMI believes in non-violence...that is the fundamental ethos of Islam. Terrorism in any form is definitely condemnable."

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