Assaudin Owaisi led AIMIM has once again shown its deep hatred for the Hindus. Owaisi has stoked yet another controversy even as his party MLA Waris Pathan was compelled to apologise merely for chanting ‘Ganapati Bappa Morya’ at a mandal in Mumbai.
Waris Pathan is an MLA from Byculla assembly constituency in Mumbai. Recently, he was seen in a video chanting ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ and also wishing that Lord Ganesha fulfills all wishes of his followers. He also said, “This shows that all of us are together. I will pray to Lord Ganesha that he helps you overcome all your problems and for your happiness. Ganpati Bappa Maurya.” The video drew a lot of flak from the Muslim community and particularly from the maulvis (clerics). Even the AIMIM went all guns blazing against its own MLA. As per Aaj Tak, the AIMIM chief Assaudin Owaisi took this very seriously and pulled up Waris Pathan for celebrating the Hindu festival. His act of merely chanting ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ was being seen and labelled as un-Islamic by the self-appointed guardians of Islam.
Waris Pathan was mercilessly trolled by the fundamentalist elements, targeted by maulvis and isolated and pulled by his own party. Therefore, he had no option but to tender an apology. He released a video in which he admitted his “fault” and also sought forgiveness from Allah for taking part in a Hindu festival. In this video he can be seen apologising not once but again and again as if he was repenting for some heinous crime. He said, “A few days ago I had chanted a mantra for which I am ashamed and I had sought salvation from the Almighty. I admit it is my fault, and I assure I will not repeat something like this again.” He also said, “I am also a human being and we tend to make mistakes. I admit I was wrong. The almighty is supreme and the one who forgives everyone and I know Allah will forgive me too…. I request all of you to pray for me so that I can strengthen my conscience and follow the righteous path. I am nothing without your blessings and I want you to pray for me so that Allah enlightens me to follow the righteous path.”
Ganesh Chaturthi is an inseparable part of Mumbai’s culture. It is also known for its secular and inclusive value. This is also not for the first time that someone from outside the Hindu community had been seen celebrating the festival. However, this time around extremist Islamic elements including Owaisi and the maulvis have attempted to undermine the festival by invoking their own notion of Islam. Before this, Maharashtra minority commission chariman Haji Arafat Shaikh was also trolled by certain Islamic extremists for sharing a picture in which we was seen worshipping at a Ganpati pandal.
This is not just about an attempt to undermine the secular value of Ganesh Chaturthi but also a clear violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of speech and expression and liberty. It is shameful how extremist elements in the Muslim community and Owaisi came together slamming Waris Pathan as if he had committed some crime. This shows absolute intolerance within the AIMIM and extremist elements within the Muslim community. They simply do not accept the freedom and liberty of a Muslim MLA to participate in a Hindu festival. This intolerance is the very antithesis of the ideals of free speech and expression enshrined in the Constitution of India.