Anti-terrorism crusader: Shakeel Saifi

How the idea of launching an anti-terrorism front came to your mind?
India is facing the scourge of terrorism for the last more than three decades. Thousands of innocent people have been killed across the country. That continues even today in utterly inhumane manner. Every now and then there are terrorist attacks and people are killed, injured and thousands of people continuously live on edge fearing for their lives.

But the exact idea to launch the outfit came to my mind following Akshardham temple attack in Ahmadabad when I visited the place and found that the first one to lose his life was one BSF commando named Allah Rakkha. When everyone mourned the death of devotees at the famed temple, no one remembered the brave commando who gave up his life fighting the terrorists. I was aghast and so was launched Muslim Akhil Bharti Atank Virodhi Morcha.

But we have been denouncing terrorism long before the launch of the front. When Pakistani terrorists and their army infiltrated in India and the Kargil war began I met the then Home Minister LK Advani and offered to fight at the front lines with our 980 young Muslim volunteers who had offered to fight against the enemies of the nation.

When Pervez Musharraf and the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee held historic talks in Agra I asked the prime minister to seek extradition of Dawood Ibrahim, Chota Shakeel and other most wanted in our list. These people should be hanged as prima facie evidence exists against these terrorists. Similar action should be taken against Afzal Guru who continues to live in a Delhi jail despite his crime being proved in the highest court.{mospagebreak}

When 33 Sikhs were killed in Chattisinghpura, I went to Srinagar and protested against the killing.

How has been the response to your organization?
Ours’ is the largest anti-terrorism outfit in the country. We have 1,27,000 members and have held around 10000 anti-terrorism dharnas, rallies, sit ins and conferences across the country. Our anti terrorism dharnas bring largest number of people. Come in our dharnas and compare the crowds with other similar meeting (he obviously refers to Bitt’s anti-terrorism outfit).

But despite the efforts put in to create awareness against terrorism and facing direct threat to my life, I have not been given security cover. When even small time VHP and Shiv Sena leaders enjoy police protection, the government has failed to provide me any security (when he came to his office at Firoz Shah Road in Delhi, he himself was driving without any security).

I have direct threat to my life from several fronts including ULFA, one of whose terrorists I got arrested from an MP’s house. (FIR no. 447 dated 14-7-2008). Around 17 MPs and two central ministers as well as two Delhi government ministers have written letters requesting security for me. But I haven’t been given security cover so far.

How has been the response from other Muslim leaders?
The Muslim leaders have been supportive to my cause. They have appreciated the move and have always stood with me.

There are cases when some Hindu outfits have launched terror attacks like in Thane. What is your take on that?

Terrorists are terrorists and no discrimination should be made while dealing with such enemies of humanity. After Malegaon attack I went there with state chief minister and visited the families in the hospital. I said that the attack was the handiwork of Shiv Sena, but no action was initiated against the organizations. The same is true of attacks on Thane theatre.