Condemnation of Blasts in Bodhgaya by Religious Leaders and Peace Activists from Across India

Condemnation of Blasts in Bodhgaya by Religious Leaders and Peace Activists from Across India

We the undersigned are horrified by the serial bomb blasts in Bodhgaya, Bihar, in the early hours of 7^th July 2013 in which 3 persons are injured and fortunately there are no reports of loss of life or damage to the holy shrine. We are deeply pained and shocked by this heinous terror attack on a place of worship of great spiritual and historical significance targeting innocent people and unequivocally condemn this dastardly act of crime against humanity.

Speculation has already started that this attack could be in retaliation for the attacks on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. We urge that all such speculations should be discouraged till such time as proper investigations are conducted and the identity of culprits is firmly established as this could be used to target the Muslim community in India, to gain political polarisation before the forth coming general elections, and also to unleash a new wave of violence against the Muslims in Myanmar who are already suffering grave violence and untold sufferings for years and lakhs had to flee Myanmar to save their lives over the past years. This mindless action, God forbidding, may also make scores of Rogingya refugees around the world vulnerable and open to retaliatory attacks in different countries where they have taken refuge.

We appeal to people in India and across the world to view this terror attack as an action by some misguided criminals and not to consider this as an act of vengeance by the Rohingya community or Muslims in general. We also urge the government to initiate a speedy, professional and thorough probe to apprehend the culprits and expose and punish both the perpetrators and conspirators of this dreadful act.

Mr. Mahesh Bhatt, Film Maker, Mumbai

Swami Agnivesh, Arya Samaj, New Delhi

Dr. Mazher Hussain, COVA, Hyderabad

Dr. D. Yadiah, Boudhik Pramukh, All India Samata Sainik Dal

Dr. Binayak Sen, PUCL,

Kamla Bhasin, New Delhi

Maulana Syed Shah Hamid Hussain Shutari, All India Sunni Ulema Board

Fr. Dominic Emmanuel, Delhi Catholic Church, New Delhi

Dr. Ram Punyani, All India Secular Forum, Mumbai

Dr. Zafar Mahmood, Zakat Foundation, New Delhi

Prof. Ilina Sen, TISS, Mumbai

Prof. Hasan Mansoor, PUCL, Bangaluru

Dr. Sandeep Panday, ASHA, Lucknow

Mr. A. Faizur Rahman, Islamic Forum for Promotion of Moderate Thought, Chennai

Sardar Nanak Singh Nishtar, COVA, Hyderabad

Mr. Iqbal Ahmad Engineer, Center for Peace and True Message, Hyderabad

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COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations) is a national network of voluntary organizations dedicated to the issues of social harmony, peace and justice. The prime focus of COVA is on citizenship rights and on perspective building for harmony and peace in South Asia. Through direct programmes and by networking with other CSOs, COVA organises perspective building activities and programs, carries out campaigns, and conducts research for influencing diverse sections of civil society and the state apparatus to adopt inclusive, secular and egalitarian outlook and policies that would foster rights and secure justice and peace for all.