Another report concerned Qutubdin Ansari, the tailor, whose brimming eyes and folded hands became the defining face of the Gujarat riots. The 2002 photograph of Ansari was one of the two that the militant group, IndianMujahideen,which claimed responsibility for the Delhi blasts, had used in their terror e-mail. The photograph bore a caption – “Eye for an Eye.” Ansari, who is into tailoring in Gujarat now, has forgotten all about the Gujarat riots. Of course, he had no clue that his photograph was being used as a poster by the Indian Mujahideen for its terror mails.

The terrorists cannot be adherents of any religion. People like Ansari too hate being associated with such outfits. The terrorists on the other hand are claiming to act on their behalf. If avenging the death of victims is on their agenda, then the terrorists had better remember that such settlement of score was not sought by the victim or the victim’s representatives. Then why did they do it? By taking the lives innocent people, who had nothing to do with any of these incidents?  

The terrorists are using innocent citizens including people from their own religion, as grist for their mill. Narim, who died in the Gaffar Market blast, will be buried courtesy Praveen and Hemant. For these traders, the 10-year old relationship that they shared is more important than their religious differences.

The so-called victimisation of the community the terrorists allude to is simply a pretext. It has its own self-fulfilling logic. If this is a battle on behalf of the Muslims, what sort of battle is this? For if nothing else, these acts make life more difficult and not less difficult for Indian Muslims. It is as if the terrorist is besotted with violence than genuine care for fellow-Muslims.