By TwoCircles.net Staff reporter,
New Delhi: A delegation of Muslim clerics and social leaders today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here and discussed several issues concerning the community. The meeting was also joined by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.
Prominent among others in the delegation included Kamal Faruqui, Chairman, Confederation of Minorities Educational institutions and Kamar Agha Noted Journalist and Expert on International Islamic affairs.
The delegation raised many issues that also included breaking minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jamia Millia Islamia by the central government. The meeting lasted three hours and fifteen minutes.
The group also talked about educational and economic backwardness of the community and requested the government to take positive steps for their upliftment. It was also suggested that a forum for dialogue to strengthen communal harmony be created comprising of religious and social leaders from different communities and other stakeholders.
Condemning all kind of violence in the name of religion the delegation explained that Islam stands for peace and wellbeing of all; and no one should be misguided or carry an understanding contrary to this fact. They also added that they were against any sort of terrorist or violence activities including cross-border terrorism.
An understanding arrived during the meeting that an Interfaith Dialogue Commission be created comprising of prominent religious and social figures of all faith to create broader understanding in the society.
Following this understanding, Imams in the meeting said they will make specific mention of this fact in the Friday sermons in the Masjids.
Speaking with TwoCircles.net Dr. MJ Khan, National Convener, Muslim Economic Forum, who mounted the delegation said, “The meeting lasted for more than three hours and ministry listened to all of our concerns. We talked about 15-18 points including arresting of youths, languishing of many in jail without trial, minority status of AMU and Jamia, increasing confidence of minority in the government”.
“We told ministry that AMU and Jamia issue is of highest concern and the community will come on street to restore its minority status. The minister did not commit on this issue but said will talk with HRD Minister and PM”, he added.
He said Rajnath Singh showed quite interest in understanding the concerns and himself made a note of all the suggestions provided by the delegation.
“As NSA was also in the meeting we told minister that Hindu Sena is openly taking arms training whose photos and videos are making round in social media but nothing is done against it so far by the security agency, that is a major threat to the communal harmony”, he added.
The delegation has decided to meet Home minister every three months.
The delegation also included the names of Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, Prominent Shia cleric, Maulana Abdul Wahid Hussain Chisti, Chief of Dargah Ajmer Sharief, Ajmer, Niaz Faruqui, General Secretary, Jamait-Ul-Hind, Maulana Iqbal Ahmed Chisti, General Secretary, Maulana Wamiq Rafiq Warsi Sahab, Head, Dargah Dewa Sharief, Janab Mohibulla Nadvi, Chief Imam, Parliament Masjid, Maulana Mohammad Alim Nadvi, Haryana Imams Organization, Yamuna Nagar and Dr. M.J. Khan.