Muslim leaders call for unity, resistance

New Delhi, 21 May 2022 [Fik/News Sources]: Top Muslim bodies on Friday evening held to brainstorming session to protect fraying fabric of pluralism and safeguard eroding values of democratic institutions during the two-day conference on the “Current Situation of the Country and Our Response.”

The speakers on the occasion analysed the current situation and identified the ills affecting the community, proposing steps to address the chaotic situation of the country. They slammed incumbent government and its ideological mentor for destroying hard-earned freedom and cherished pluralism. Besides, the speakers expressed their dismay over a vast section of news media for “acting like a wing of RSS-BJP”.

Among the steps proposed in the inaugural meeting include peaceful resistance, increasing interaction with othe communities, unity of the Muslim Indians and instilling hope and courage among the general public.

Setting tone of the meeting, the Jamat-e-Islami Hind president, Saadatullah Hussaini, proposed two key steps: confidence-building measures and winning the hearts and mind of the majority.

Stressing on the “response part.’, Hussaini suggested to instill a sense of confidence, courage and conviction among the general Muslims who are losing hopes in the system. He urged the Muslim leadership to pull people from slipping into the pall of pessimism.

He suggested the Muslim leaders to shed the petty differences and egos for the same of the Muslim community in particular and the country in general. He added, “Conviction is the key of resistance against tyranny.”

Speaking on the occasion, Delhi University professor Apoorvanand said: “We will fight peacefully to bring India back from the bnk of chos. This is the test of our humanity s a whole.” He dded, “No one can teach how to remain Indian” Apoorvanand further stressed: “I learnt from Muslims in the last 4-5 year about the meaning what sabr (patience). They lived with it. But it doesn’t mean we will sit silently. “We will fight with patience and confidence, ” he summed up.

Addressing the session, BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali clearly stted that people owing allegiance to Hindu right wing ideology infiltrated in every democratic institutions. “The unfortunate part is that the majority community is taking vicarious pleasure.” He, however, flagged concern on the disturbing trend and drew similarities with the current turmoil in the country with the ongoing Sri Lanka situation. He also took on the media holding the fourth state responsible for creating atmosphere of hate.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Yasin Usmani underlined the need to pressurize the Muslim leadership to actively take on the situation instead of brainstorming all the time. He said the Muslim leaders should stress on the ‘response’ part instead of analysing the current situation as everyone knows the scenario pretty well.

In a fiery tone, All India Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Tauqir Raza said that the strategy should not be made before camera and mic. He asked the people on the dias to give a call for ‘jail bharo’ stir across the country while urging the need to fight peacefully on street. “We should stop wasting our energy in holding such meetings and come on street to fight peacefully.” He added, “If we come together, a vast majority of Hindu community will support us.” He further stressed on boycotting Muslims who take part in TV debates.

Presiding over the session, Navaid Hamid, president of All India Muslim Majlis Mushawrat, the apex Muslim body which organized the two-day event, said that by tomorrow evening when the brainstorming session ends, there will be some “concrete strategy” for the future course of action.

Many people who were invited to the event gave a miss,. Prominent among them are Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind leaders Maulana Arshad Madani, Maulana Mahmood Madani and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar. While the NCap chief regretted his absence due to his prior engagement and sent out message instead, the the Jamiat duo didn’t turn up. When asked on their absence, Hamid said due to prior engagement they didn’t turn up.

SQR Ilyas read out the message sent by NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who could not attend the function, stating his support to the even while underlying the need to protect the Constitution for the generations to come.