#NotInMyName protests: Ex-AMU V-C Zameer Shah condemns lynchings, urges people to speak up

Aligarh: Former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Vice Chancellor Zameer Uddin Shah on Friday voiced anguish over lynching incidents and warned that the situation will spill out of control if “men of reason do not stick out their necks” and speak out against them.

Hailing Hindus who broke their silence and participated in the ‘Not in My Name’ march, Lieutenant General (retired) Shah said these are the people of courage who will save the country from narrow-minded “self righteous criminals”.

“The lynching of 16-year-old Junaid in full public view is a clear warning that if those in authority and men of reason do not stick out there necks and speak against such continuing atrocities then the situation is likely to spin out of control”, Shah asserted.

“Till now I was silent because I was in government service but today I can pour my heart out before the rest of my countrymen on this issue", Shah, a war veteran and a decorated officer, told PTI.

Protesting against the lynching of a Muslim boy, civil society groups took out ‘Not In My Name’ demonstrations in Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Shah said, “To begin with I would like to salute those members of the Hindu community who broke their silence by participating in the ‘Not in my Name’ march”.

“I am proud of my association and my memories of my days in the Indian Army which is a symbol of our pluralistic culture…I recollect so many incidents when Hindus would join us in our Eid Namaz and I have no hesitation in pointing out that I personally participated in so many functions in temples as a commanding officer in my regiment,” Shah said.

Such religious functions, he recalled, were always marked by speeches about amity of service to the country.

“This is the spirit which makes our army strong and unbeatable,” he asserted.