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Sabrang Team
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December 11, 2008
Amaresh Mishra’s web of lies
Shri Aziz Burney,
Editor In Chief
Rashtriya Sahara Newspaper
Dear Shri Burney,
I am writing this specifically in response to a news item that
appeared in The Rashtriya Sahara on December 7, 2008. I was
surprised and shocked that a respectable and widely read Urdu daily
published an item without cross checking the baseless allegations
made therein. I am referring, Sir, to the scurrilous and
unsubstantiated new items carried by your esteemed publication
obviously authored by one MR. AMARESH MISHRA, a dangerous
individual. I am shocked that your newspaper printed without
bothering to verify the false and baseless allegations against my
husband and colleague JAVED ANAND, co-editor of COMMUNALISM COMBAT
and secretary, MUSLIMS FOR SECULAR DEMOCRACY.
To rectify the one-sided view that has been published, I crave leave
to dwell on the events of that day. The Citizens for Justice and
Peace had hosted a meeting at the St. Xaviers College Hall to
condemn the horrific terror attacks and to outline an action plan
for youth and citizens. All of us were gathered there, scattered in
the quadrangle and the hall. Swami Agnivesh and Mufti Fuzail Ul
Rahman Hilal Usmani, our special guests, were also present having
been escorted by my husband and colleague, Javed Anand. Suddenly Mr
Amaresh Mishra arrived on the scene and first started using abusive
language against M Rajdeep Sardesai, editor in chief of CNN-IBN at
which point his mother Smt Nandini Sardesai also intervened. He then
started haranguing Swami Agnivesh our guest, "warning" him on how he
should speak related to the recent terror attacks in Mumbai! He soon
turned to abusing both Mr Javed Anand and journalist Sajjid Rashid
in offensive and unprintable language. In fact our daughter hurried
to me at this point thinking that her father, Javed Anand was about
to be assaulted. One of the over dozen witnesses, Shahbaz Khan
intervened at this point and escorted Mr Amaresh Mishra out of the
college.
Sir, there were many witnesses present that day, December 4, 2008
when Mr. Mishra in fact did his best to disrupt our meeting and
abuse Mr.Rajdeep Sardesai, Mr. Javed Anand and others. I believe he
did this because he is threatened by the scope and reach of our
activities and
especially the role of MSD in drawing the Muslim community into
Civic, Secular Democratic issues breaking the manipulative
stereotypes perpetrated by the Hindu right wing -- the RSS, the
Bajrang Dal and the VHP among many other organizations -- against
the entire community. Specifically, I believe that Mr Amaresh
Mishra was out to discredit the courage and initiative shown by both
Mr Javed Anand and myself in suggesting to Indian Muslims all over
the country to demonstrate in one voice against the enemies of India
and the forces of terror following the recent attacks on Mumbai on
November 26, 2008. This eleven city protest was successfully held on
Sunday December 7, 2008, the day the unsubstantiated news item in
your newspaper appeared. I trust and hope that this letter of mine
finds prominent space n ALL editions of the newspaper.
There are more falsehoods, Sir, in Mr Mishra's claims. He mentions
three respected members of the Muslim clergy who he says also
condemned M Javed Anand for "ostensibly attacking Mr Mishra (sic)".
One of the three respected persons Maulana Mustaqeen Azmi
specifically spoke to me, categorically refuting Mr Mishra's claim
that he had issued any such statement of condemnation. Finally, Mr
Mishra ends his diatribe stating that he spoke to some persons that
include Mr Javed Akhtar, Ms Shabana Azmi and me, Ms Teesta Setalvad
about the incident. This is an absolute lie. He did not speak to
either of us and has not for some time.
I am consciously not engaging here on the merits and de-merits of
the conspiracy theories spouted by Mr Mishra in print and on the
internet that are not just too incerdible but have also,
surprisingly escaped the wrath of the sangh parivar. I am hoping
that your publication will give me an opportunity to engage in an
open debate with him on these theories. Until then I am hopeful that
this short piece of mine receives de space attention and prominence
in Rashtriya Sahara.
In anticipation
Teesta Setalvad
Secretary Citizens for Justice and Peace
Co-Editor Communalism Combat
Hoping against Hope,
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