By TCN News,
Riyadh: Uttar Pradesh’s Minister of Panchayati Raj Kamal Akhtar has assured that he would exert efforts to facilitate the allotment of land for the construction of India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) branch in Lucknow.
“Fascist forces are creating hatred against Muslims. To counter this hatred, it is important to communicate the true picture of Islam and Muslims through IICC centers across the length and breadth of India,” Kamal Akhtar said here on Tuesday, December 23.
IICC Overseas Convener Murshid Kamal presenting memento to the Uttar Pradesh Minister Kamal Akhtar
He was all praise for the current IICC president Sirajuddin Qureshi, who has been focusing on the personality development and vocational training of Muslim boys and girls, a release said here.
At a dinner banquet organized in his honor, he interacted with the prominent members of the Indian community, allayed their concerns and answered their questions. Akhtar declared that the UP government was pursuing a development agenda with sincerity. “However, India’s federal government along with some sections of the ‘paid media’ is bent upon sullying the image of the UP government. The partisan media ignores positive developments in the state and highlights negative reports to paint the UP governments in a bad picture,” he added.
Referring to Muzaffarnagar riots, the minister explained that the UP government was doing all within its means to prosecute the perpetrators of the riot. “Most of the accused have been put behind bars. Our government acted swiftly and decisively to prevent the riots from spreading across the state by deploying the army within eight hours,” he said.
A memento of appreciation from the IICC was presented to the minister.
Earlier, IICC convener in Riyadh, Murshid Kamal highlighted the vision and mission of the IICC. He shared with the audience the plan to set up IICC centers in Patna, Lucknow and Hyderabad.
He said that aims and objectives of IICC are to promote inter-religious harmony and coexistence, and to project the true image of Islam. A documentary on the ICC was also shown to the audience. The programme was chaired by renowned Indian businessman Rashid Ali Shaikh and the proceedings were anchored by BISWAS general secretary Akhtarul Islam Siddiqui.
Jamia Alumni Association former general secretary Zafar Baari, former vice president Laique Azmi, Naushad Alam, Akram Mohiuddin and Dr Misbahul Arefin also spoke on the occasion. Prominent Indian expatriates Chaudhary Ehsan Azeem, Mohammed Qasier, Taqi Meer, Naseem Akhtar, Mohammed Qasier, Abdur Rahman Saleem were among those present, the release said.