This notice of caution provides an insight into the fear that has gripped the officials, teachers and students of Darool Uloom. It is deplorable that people are restricted from leading normal lives even on the Republic Day. On the pretext of fighting terrorism, a huge section of the population is being alienated from the mainstream.

It is a paradox that the advisory has been issued by an organization which only three years back had asked the people to hoist tri-colour on their houses. It was in 2015 that Darul Uloom Deoband in a fatwa had asked Muslims to hoist national flag on their houses and establishments on Independence Day and also appealed to them to celebrate the occasion with great spirit of patriotism.

The Ulemas (Islamic religious leaders) of Darul Uloom had played prominent roles in the freedom struggle. If Uloom’s clerics are to be believed, the call for 'Complete Independence' was "given by Darul Uloom", which later turned into the 'Purna Swaraj' movement. A clergy points out that “from Hussain Ahmad Madani to Maulvi Ahmadulla Shah, there is a long series of those freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the Independence of the mother land".

"This community has always been the target of communal forces. They always question our patriotism. But making it clear in our madrasas, we always teach love for motherland and patriotism for the country. In the past, we have been celebrating Independence and Republic Days, and we will continue doing it with great spirit of patriotism," said Hafiz Akhlaaq Ahmad Latifi, who runs a madrasa in Ayodhya.

The attitude towards Muslims could be understood from the fact that only a couple of years back a Union minister from Jharkhand had publicly felicitated a group of criminals who were convicted of lynching a Muslim trader in the state on the plea that he was carrying beef. Darul Uloom’s students have been harassed by police and attacked by mobs in the past, particularly on Republic Day and Independence Day.

Police and other authorities step up security checks during occasions of national importance. Students have been harassed; even attacked by a section of people. So they need to be extra careful. Three Muslim youths were beaten up by over a dozen men on a passenger train in Baghpat in November 2017. Earlier, five Islamic scholars were thrashed on board the Delhi-Saharanpur train in May 2015.

Mufti Asad Qasmi, former member of the seminary, said: “The police had detained Darul Uloom students two years ago on Republic Day and told the media they were terrorists. Although they were released the next day, the media didn’t clarify they had aired incorrect information. Darul Uloom doesn’t want it to recur.” The seminary’s students had also been attacked on trains or railway platforms last year, in Saharanpur and Baghpat, and also on Republic Day in 2017 in Saharanpur, but the accused weren’t identified in any of these instances.

The Darul Uloom Deoband advisory reflects the sense of deep anguish and frustration that has gripped the Muslim community; it also manifests their depiction as anti-nationals. It is really sad how a country forgets the contribution of Muslims to its growth and development and also for strengthening the secular character. This is certainly not the pluralism for which India stands. (IPA Service)