Asif Mahmood 

If the matter had stayed till taunting Khawaja Asif with a couplet, it was still understandable. But now Maulana has gone to the extent of saying that he spits on the state.

A reporter asked him, somewhat complainingly, “Maulana, you have used the word spit for the state, while the state has given you so much.” Maulana angrily replied, “What has the state given me?”

This question of Maulana is my topic today: what has the state actually given to Maulana?

I am thinking, can any Deobandi leader in Abul Kalam Azad’s India dare to say with same force that he spits on the state?

Does anyone have the courage there to say, what has the state of India given us?

If this freedom of thought was given by the elders of Deoband, then why it is not seen there? And if Pakistan has given this freedom, then what is the problem in accepting it?

Here, Maulana’s politics is evergreen. Sometimes he is head of PDM, sometimes Leader of Opposition in National Assembly. He himself in the assembly, his son also in assembly, his brother Ata-ur-Rehman also Senator, his relative Haji Ghulam Ali first Nazim of Peshawar district and then Governor, his relative’s son Zubair Ali Nazim Peshawar, his other brother Lutf-ur-Rehman Leader of Opposition in provincial assembly, third brother Zia-ur-Rehman was Assistant Engineer in PTCL, without CSS he was made Deputy Commissioner because Islamic revolution had come in the province and Chief Minister declared him civil servant. That civil servant in time became DC. 

Maulana’s sister-in-law Shahida Akhtar Ali twice MNA, second sister-in-law Nair Sultana also MNA, third sister-in-law Rehana Ismail twice MPA. Look at what posts have remained in Maulana’s family at different times, but he says, what has the state given me.

The attitude here is that Maulana says, without us no government can be formed, and if formed, it cannot run. On other side, is there any worth mentioning existence of Deoband in Indian politics? The position is that Deoband’s own constituency is being won by BJP and the son of elders of Darul Uloom, Umair Madani, gets only three thousand five hundred and one votes. Keep in mind this is area where Muslim population is almost 70 percent. Standing in that area, BJP’s Brijesh Singh says very soon we will change name of this area from Deoband to Dev Vrind. There also someone should rise and have courage to spit on Indian state with same anger.

There the condition is that elders of Darul Uloom Deoband even whisper with fear that Modi Ji may take away all freedom of thought, and here the attitude is that whoever wakes up, takes the state on its horns. If you have problems with government or establishment, then settle scores as you like, but what anger is this that you start spitting on state?

Here the situation is that whoever becomes challenge for JUI at any level, he is at once declared Jewish agent. If JUI sees Syed Maududi as challenge, then slogan comes One Maududi, hundred Jews, if Imran Khan becomes challenge for them, he is declared Jewish agent and if Maulana Sherani separates from JUI, then taunt of Jamiat Ulema-e-Israel is thrown at him. Maulana challenges whom he wants, when he wants, where he wants, no one to stop him. On other side are Deobandis of India, whose power of speech has been taken away by fear.

Maulana of Pakistan challenges every ruler and establishment including America and Russia, but Maulana of India cannot even speak against fascism of BJP. If Deobandiat in Pakistan is resistance and challenge, in India it is nothing but helplessness, which is always seen giving assurances of loyalty with folded hands. 

In Pakistan if members of JUI are arrested in Parliament Lodges, Maulana comes with all his glory that now if you have courage, arrest me too and in Deoband’s district Saharanpur if students of Darul Uloom are taken off buses and their heads shaved or life is made difficult for Muslims, Deoband movement does not go beyond humble protest.

In Pakistan if there is little up and down, Maulana comes in such anger that whole country and all centres of power start shaking with his awe, but in India even if Muslim blood becomes cheap, silence prevails in hujras and corridors of Deoband. The glory which political movement of Deoband has in Pakistan, even one tenth of it is not there in India. If ever any such voice was raised in Indian Lok Sabha which reminds of resistance of Deoband movement, then do tell.

If he has complaint against someone, Maulana has right to express, if he counts his services to PML-N, that also is his right. If he is angry with establishment, then express it as you like, but why spitting on state?

What is fault of state in this. If this politics is dirty, then you all have made it dirty together. Is JUI itself clean?

What principle is this that when you are happy then all is well, when angry then you spit on state.