By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
New Delhi : Muslims should not feel guilty for each act of terrorism; they should not feel inferior to other communities in India as they are equal inheritor of this country and they should strive for their rights, said speakers at a grand anti-terrorism conference here on 31st May.
“We are opposed to terrorism and we are determined to eliminate it, come what may,” said Maulana Mahmood Madani, leader of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) and Member of Parliament. The global peace conference held at Ram Lila Ground was attended by roughly 1.5 lac people. The conference was organized by Darul Uloom Deoband, JUH and some other leading Muslim organizations including Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) and Jamiat Ahle Hadees.
“What could be more blatant lie than calling Muslims terrorist?” asked social leader Swami Agnivesh, adding that when two followers of Islam meet, they greet each other with a peace prayer. “Real terrorists are those who created Israel in the heart of Arab world, imposed war on Afghanistan and Iraq and now are eying Iran,” said Agnivesh lambasting the western powers.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said that by putting 20-crore strong Muslim community in the dock, India can never succeed in curbing terrorism. He expressed concern over the trend that Muslims are blamed for each act of terrorism.
JIH secretary Mujtaba Farooque said that soon after a terrorist attack, fingers are raised at Muslims while intelligence and secret agencies are in the dark before the attack.
Maulana Marghoobur Rahman, rector of Darul Uloom Deoband, was patron of the conference which was presided over by Qari Syed Mohammad Usman, JUH president and deputy rector of Darul Uloom Deoband.
In his presidential address, Qari Usman said the scenario created by global terrorism is a challenge for the Muslim community as it is altering the social and political situations vis-à-vis Muslims in India. At this juncture, it is necessary for madrasas and Muslim organizations to declare that they have nothing to do with terrorism and they condemn all kinds of terrorism.
Rejecting the allegations of terrorism against Muslims, Qari Usman said, “How can Muslims in India become a terrorist while they have always sacrificed for the country, all odds, hurdles and discrimination notwithstanding?” Muslims have always taken to a democratic way to fight for their rights and they have always refrained from extremist groups and activities, he continued. Not a single Muslim has ever been found in any anti-national activities, he said.
Other religious leaders and prominent personalities who spoke on the occasion included Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi, general secretary of Jamiat Ahle Hadees, Pramjeet Sing Serna, president of Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee