Post Pune case, Muslims tense in Mumbai too

MUMBAI: It's not just in Pune where a 24 year old lost his life last week, where there is a fear among the minority community of being targeted. There are fears in other parts of the state too and were visible even before Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister said Muslim community representatives.

In certain areas in Mumbai the daily call for prayer for 'Azaan' for the Muslims which is given through loudspeakers has been reduced a notch after Modi's win. "There has been a noticeable reduction in the volume of the Azaan given from mosques earlier and now."said a resident of LBS Marg in Ghatkopar where there are a number of mosques.

Farid Khan Chairman of NGO 'Milli Shoora,' said that the community has been ‘depressed' right after Modi's win. "We have been organizing meetings with local leaders and other leaders and are in contact with people to ensure that the morale of the people doesn't go down,"said Khan.

Khalil Zahid Editor of Urdu daily 'Awadhnama' said that there is a palpable fear among the community. "While people are not changing their modes of dress and look right now in Mumbai. There is however fear that another riots could happen. The BJP won in Uttar Pradesh after the riots polarised the non muslim community, with elections due in Maharashtra in another four months, there are fears within the community that another riot could happen soon"said Zahid.

Zahid blamed the Congress-NCP government for the current situation saying that the government has not done anything for the minority community. "All that the Congress-NCP has done over the years is scare us, saying that if you don't vote for us, then the BJP will come. That is all they have been doing, they have done nothing to uplift our community,"said Zahid.