The Raza Academy members on Sunday offered unconditional apology to the media and citizens of the city for the violence and riot on Saturday,terming it as a conspiracy to create a gap between Muslims and the media. Representatives of Raza Academy,All India Sunni Jamaitul Ulema,All India Sunni Ayema-e-Masajid,Jamaat-E- Razae Mustafa and 20 other Sunni Muslim groups said they felt "deeply ashamed" over Saturday's violence and condemned the riot at a peaceful protest march against attacks on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar. According to the academy members,the attack was "unprovoked and a conspiracy". On behalf of everyone,Raza Academy president Mohammed Saeed Noori sought "forgiveness" of the police and media,which have always supported different causes in the past. Founded in 1978 and regarded as a secular outfit,Raza Academy's reputation suffered a serious setback after Saturday's violence left two persons dead and another 54,including 45 policemen,injured. "This was a planned attack by non-Muslims who want to create a rift between the media and Muslims as the people who started the violence did not belong to our academy," said a spokesperson. "The people who indulged in violence cannot be Muslims. No Muslim would dare to do anything like this during Ramzan. Some mischief mongers have taken advantage of the situation," Noori said. A statement issued by the academy stated that the Ulemas,on behalf of the entire community,tender an official apology to the media,the policemen and the innocent people for this act and call for a strict inquiry into the violence and book the perpetrators. While reposing complete faith in law and the police department,the Ulemas appealed to the community to remain calm and promote peace at every level.
