Safoora Zargar's bail- Win Win situation for Islamists?

Its easy for a woman criminal, a pregnant woman criminal to get out of the jail on grounds of humanity, isn't it? Well, the injustice seen yesterday in case of Delhi Riots case as Safoora Zargar got bail and walked out of Tihar jail has a lot to say. Safoora Zargar is no ordinary woman. The 27-year-old ‘faithful’ is accused of being one of the people who orchestrated one of the worst riots that Delhi has seen in a long time. A riot that left over 50 dead and was aimed at subjugating the Hindu population of the country post the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

 

Safoora, a pregnant Islamist, was arrested under the UAPA for inciting and masterminding the Delhi riots. In fact, Safoora was explicitly mentioned in the charge sheet filed in the murder of constable Ratan Lal, who was lynched mercilessly by a Muslim mob during the riots. Safoora was named as one of the instigators of the mob and was named as one of the people, along with elements like Yogendra Yadav, AISA functionaries, DS Bindra etc who was known to and was in contact with the rioters on that fateful day.

  

 

Now, after all the evidence against her, Safoora has been granted bail by a Delhi Court. If she had to get the bail, she would have got long back. Why now.. that too on humanitarian grounds? The question does a lot more than pinching the citizens to know the actual strategy behind this move. Much to the horror of those who have been advocating for the strictest retribution against the perpetrators of the Delhi violence, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Delhi police, submitted that the State had no problem with Safoora being released on bail provided she doesn’t indulge in activities she’s being investigated for.

 

Essentially, the Modi government, citing ‘humanitarian grounds’, allowed a terrorist to walk free simply because she was pregnant. What, don't we know stories of children being born behind the bars? Why did the central government decide to give bail to someone who incited and instigated riots? Is government thinking to sacrifice the investigation to avoid the global propaganda it has been facing after the riots? Despite taking decisive action against the perpetrators of the anti-Hindu Delhi riots, why is it that the Modi govt shows sympathy in this case? These are all valid questions and questions that must be asked.

 

The danger here is that the bail to the lady will only boost her credentials in the propaganda war and undoubtedly, it will be used by propagandists to target the government further and the more radical sections will interpret it as a victory for Islam. The extremists are interpreting the bail as further confirmation of their delusion that Allah protects them as they wage war against Kaafirs. And that is dangerous. Having said that, it has to be conceded that Islamists have won this round, as has been said before, and there is really no other way to admit it.

 

This round goes to the Islamists. Their propaganda won. Their lies won. This round was theirs. And it will continue to be theirs unless the government in power can believe in justice just as much as Islamists believe in the dominance over Kafirs. The commitment to that faith will be tested when elements like Safoora have to bought to justice for their crimes because the propaganda machinery will use such cases to further their propaganda and paint the government as monsters. Hundreds of those who have been arrested for the anti-Hindu Delhi riots are currently in jail and for the most part, the Modi government has done a commendable job in ensuring that those responsible for the carnage face the law. However, the sanctity of their dogged pursuit of justice will be tested in cases like these.

 

The Islamists train and use women and children because it is far easier to exploit the lack of dogged faith in justice by amplifying pleas of humanity. It is easier to paint the aggressor as the victim when the aggressor is a woman. Far easier when the woman is pregnant and a walk-over when that woman or her child is harmed. The Modi government’s commitment is being tested. What remains to be seen is whether the government realises its follies in letting the shameless propagandists run amuck and take corrective actions before the last round is played. The central government here needs to realise that it does not need the approval of the echo-chambers of the liberal establishment.

 

(With input references from opindia article- Editor Nupur J Sharma, June 23)

 

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