By TCN News,
Riyadh (Saudi Arabia): In the present India, Muslims are undergoing identity, security and equity crises, said Popular Front of India’s K.M shareif talking in a symposium “Present situation of Muslims in India” organized recently by Indian Fraternity Forum(IFF) Karnataka chapter, Riyadh unit in Halfmoon Auditorium Batha, Riaydh.
The Programme started with Qira’th from Janab Jafar Faizi, followed by that the patriotic song “sare jahan se acha, Hindustan hamara” was sung by Brother Aris Kalladka and Dawood Soorinje.
Abdul Majeed Vitla, the president of IFF Karnataka , Riyadh unit, welcomed the gathering and explained various activities done by IFF. He said that IFF is helping to solve the problems of NRIs over here. This is the only NGO which has units for all the Indian states and each state unit takes the responsibility of the NRIs of respective states and tries to solve their problems through the help of Indian embassy. He said, for the past one year they have been able to attend 600 cases in Riyadh alone. Majeed said that IFF which started helping Hajj pilgrims with 50 volunteers has been able to increase its number to 1000 volunteers last year.
Saudi Arabia’s IFF co-ordinator Janab Abdul Basheer Calicut inaugurated the function and said that Karnataka Unit of IFF was doing great job and asked the gathering to join IFF to serve the community.
Addressing a packed out gathering Mr. Shareif, who is said “Constitution asks the government to plan for the Over all development of all citizens, but over the years successive governments have neglected this issue. In the past 62 years after independence minorities and dalits have been deprived of their due rights. Communal organizations have been able to consolidate their influence due to ineffective governments and many a time government has openly encouraged communal groups, he said. He said that “due to capitalism only small part of the people were benefited and other people remained poor, and Corruption has become a business for politicians.”
Muslims in India are not even getting basic requirements. Muslims in India should have been actively engaged in fighting for their basic requirements; however they are more engaged in proving their patriotism due to the manipulation and propaganda of vested interests. Name of a Muslim or his beard is considered as source of threat. Muslims face discrimination in law, education and even in banking sector, he said. As a community, they are often profiled as terrorists and frequently many Muslim youths are apprehended, detained without cause, and face prolonged prosecution. State complicity in communal backlash, lack of impartial investigation is also hurting the sentiments and self confidence of Muslims in India, he added.
Mr. Haris Ahmed Suratkal secretary, Riyadh unit explained IFF activities through a presentation and proposed the vote of thanks. Mr. Haris Angaragundi compered the program.