Indian Muslim Council-USA condemns Malegaon blasts and calls for transparent investigation

September, 8 2006

Indian Muslim Council-USA, an advocacy group working toward safeguarding Indian society’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, condemned the multiple bomb blasts in Malegaon town, near Mumbai, on September 8, 2006. An estimated 75% of the population in Malegaon is Muslim. According to initial news reports these blasts were near a Mosque and graveyard immediately after the Friday congressional prayers were concluded and worshipers were returning, reports of dead are as high as 35 with scores of others seriously injured.

Rasheed Ahmed of IMC-USA said, “We condemn these gruesome crimes. This is yet another attempt to split the communities in India. Such senseless acts of violence must be seen in the context of the fascist agenda of militant organizations in India. We call on the Indian government to arrest the perpetrators of this terrorist act and bring these terrorists to justice and seek maximum penalty under the law. We are confident that Indian citizens of all religious and secular backgrounds will not let these bombings be exploited by those political parties and religious groups that do not believe in pluralism and secular democracy”. Ahmed also urged the government of India to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation.

IMC-USA called on all Indians to join together and condemn this violence against innocent civilians and urged the government of India to provide prompt and adequate compensation to the victims and their families.

Since its launch on the anniversary of India’s Independence Day, August 15th, 2002, IMC-USA has been actively promoting values of pluralism and tolerance amongst the Indian Diaspora in the United States.

Indian Muslim Council-USA
265 Sunrise Highway,
1-355 Rockville Center, NY 11570

Tel: 1-800-839-7270