Dr Mohammad Arif, a Varanasi-based historian who is also known for his tireless works for maintaining communal harmony in the city since the 1990s after the Babri demolition, pointed out that the RSS-BJP does not have any agenda, other than dividing people into communal lines.
How can they bar non-Hindus which means Muslims here from the Ghats of Ganga? Ganga belongs to Muslims of this country in the same manner as it belongs to the Hindus, said Dr Arif.
Calling Varanasi – a confluence of diverse religious sects, cultures, religions, Dr Arif said, “Mughals used to drink Ganga water only. They called Ganga Aab-e-Hayat, the water of paradise.”
“Food for the Mughal Emperors right from Babur to Bahadur Shah Zafar was cooked in Ganga water only,” said Arif.
Saying that Muslims have contributed to building, shaping, and preserving Varanasi’s culture, Dr Arif recalled Mir Rustam Ali – a forgotten figure of Indian history.
“Mir Rustam Ali started the celebration of Budhwa Mangal Utsav which is dedicated to the old age form of lord Hanuman in Varanasi,” added Arif.
“Do they (VHP-RSS activists) even know that Ustad Bismillah Khan played Shehnai to mother Ganga every morning and poet Ghalib described Varanasi as Kaba-e-Hindustan ?” asked Arif who believe that Hindustan has been changed from within (by the right-wing forces).