By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Jaipur: The All India Muslim Personal Board (AIMPLB) has appealed to the Muslims of the country to cling steadfastly to their un-doubtful faith in Islam and Shariah with all their might so as to ground the mischievous elements who are hell bent to put to shreds the secular fabric of the country, enshrined in the Constitution. The Muslims should maintain their religious identity at all costs without compromising on any tenets of Islam, the Board said.
The Muslims have also been urged to keep an eye on their less privileged brethren who live in isolation in small pockets, being poverty-stricken and illiterate, that they do not walk into the trap laid by these divisive forces so as to fall out of the Islamic fold unknowingly. The Muslims have been cautioned not to admit their wards into institutions where religious books and rituals of one particular community is part of the curriculum and is imposed on students of all other faiths and beliefs cunningly in the garb of cultural discourse, it said.
“The personal laws of Muslims are an integral part of their religion and belief and any tampering with these laws is interference in the religion. It is clear violation of fundamental rights to profess, practice and propagate their religion which is guaranteed in Indian Constitution. It is our constitutional right to live in the country with full freedom of religion,” these are the main highlights of the seven-point ‘Jaipur Declaration’ released at the end of the two-day general body session of AIMPLB here in the pink city of Jaipur at the Jamea-Tul-Hidayah seminary on Sunday.
The thrust of the ‘Jaipur Declaration’ is on religious identity and religious freedom in the background of ‘Ghar Waapsi’ issue, which is pervading the country and is being propelled by the saffron forces.
The ‘Jaipur Declaration’ also said, Muslims in the country are feeling that the stability of present democratic and cultural polarity structure is at stake and it is imperative and duty of every citizen and every community and groups living in India to inculcate the sentiments of truly upholding the principles of secular character of the state’s cultural plurality and duty towards country.
For this, it is necessary that every group and community should feel that those things which are dearer to their lives are safe, preserved and protected. The first and the foremost thing in this regard is religion, it said, adding: “As far as Muslims are concerned, they feel and there is reason for this feeling that there is interference from the state and its organs in the matter of religion.”
It said, without naming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), that whichever party holds the reins of power today that it is their prime duty to safeguard the basic principles of Indian Constitution. It appealed all citizens of the country not to allow the name of the country’s face to be stained with communalism. “They should respect each other’s religious and cultural ethos to create an atmosphere of communal harmony, which has been the hallmark since time immemorial of the Indian Sub-continent.”
The ‘Jaipur Declaration’ admitted that the Muslims have not been able to make aware the vast majority of citizens of the country who are ignorant about the special features of Islam which is beneficial for the entire humanity. This would bring communities together heralding communal harmony.
Apart from this, a few resolutions were also passed on the occasion of which include combating in legal manner the ‘Suryanamaskar’ being made compulsory in Rajasthan schools, for which the AIMPLB frowned and resolved to fight. Another resolution appealed the Hajj Committee of India to return the money taken for Qurbani to Hajj pilgrims as it interferes with the religious freedom.
Earlier, during the debate on ‘Ghar Wapsi’ it was stated by speakers that it is a propaganda war marshalled by the Hindutva forces to brow-beat Muslims and Christians to keep them away from not propagating their religion as guaranteed by the Constitution. It should be the endeavour of Muslims that there Prevention of Conversion Act is not passed by the Centre in Parliament as it would be against the spirit of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Syed Salman Husaini Nadwi, speaking outspokenly at the fag end of the 24th session on Sunday, urged the AIMPLB to come out of the shell and reinvent itself to work vigorously for the uplift the Muslims, who are looking towards at it expectantly. He advocated a two-pronged battle – legal and political – to tackle the issues. He wanted Muslims to align politically with Dalits, Other Backwards and marginalised sections of society to have political solutions to issues plaguing the community since a very long time.