By Manzar Imam, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Inertia, lack of awareness, social disharmony and disunity among ulama and political leaders have added to the woes and worries of Muslims to the extent that today they have reached at the bottom of society. These were the overwhelming views of most speakers at a Milli Convention organised by Delhi-based All India Tanzeem Ulama-a-Haq on Wednesday, 12 March, 2014 at India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi.
A special issue of Fikr-e-Inqlab, an Urdu fortnightly, was released on the life and services of prominent freedom fighter and scholar Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan (1851-1920).
UNI Urdu editorial chief, Abdus Salam Asim being honoured by RK Anand and Maulana Ahmad Khizr, Ajaz Urfi is also seen.
Maulana Ahmad Khizr Shah Masudi, a teacher of Hadith at Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband, talked about the sacrifices of ulama. He said that Maulana Mahmood Hasan led the freedom struggle for which he had created a large group of freedom fighters who played stellar role in the freedom struggle. He, however, lamented that the India of today was not what he had dreamed of.
In answer to a question raised by an earlier speaker, Meem Afzal, former ambassador and spokesperson of the Congress Party talked about Congress Party’s reservation policy for Muslims and other minorities and asked Muslims to trust community leaders and extend them support which will “give them strength”.
Hassan Mohseni Fard, Counselor, Political Affairs at the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran termed the uprising beginning from Tunisia as an “awakening in the Muslim world” for rights. He said that the role of ulama and unity of Muslims were very important. Fard stressed the need for awareness and the role of ulama in creating awareness among the people. He further said that two important factors behind the Islamic Revolution of Iran were unity and joint effort but there are forces which challenge this unity now. Media, which is largely owned by Zionist forces has a role in it, added he.
Khurshid Ahmed Saiyed, Chairman, Minority Department of All India Congress Committee asked Muslims to shun complaining about parties and instead, avail of the many schemes that are meant for them. He said that most recommendations made by the Justice Sachar Committee report were already being implemented through different government schemes.
Eminent lawyer and Congress leader RK Anand said that many Muslims had sacrificed for India’s independence but it was unfortunate that even Muslims didn’t remember them. He said that there were about 57000 Muslims who had laid their lives for Independence.
On this occasion the Tanzeem honoured many persons from different walks of life for contributions in their respective spheres. Prominent among them was Abdus Salam Asim, editorial chief of the United News of India, Urdu. Mr Asim was given “Waqar-e-Sahafat Award” for his distinguished services to journalism. Former Member of Parliament RK Anand and Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Ahmad Khizr Shah of Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband gave the award to the UNI chief.
Khurshid Ahmed Saiyed, Chairman, Minority Department of All India Congress Committee was conferred Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad award for political services. In the same category, RK Anand received Mahamta Gandhi Award.
L-R: Tariq Siddiqui, Khurshid Ahmed, Maulana Essa Mansuri, Maulana Ahmad Khizr, Ajaz Urfi, Waman Meshram and Ahsan Mehtab releasing the special issue of Fikr-e-Inqlab.
Tariq Siddiqui, a leader of Uttar Pradesh Congress held ulama responsible for the problem that was causing disunity among Muslims. Waman Meshram, president of Bharat Mukti Morcha demanded effective representation for Muslims in government, legislature, judiciary and media and said that reservation was not about numbers, it was about representation. Meshram wondered why no Muslim Parliamentarian passed a private bill.
Maulana Syed Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind also spoke on this occasion. Maulana Essa Mansuri, chairman of World Islamic Forum, London Minnat Rahmani, chairman, Minority Department of Bihar Congress, senior journalist Abid Anwar, Ahsan Mehtab, Mufti Mustajabuddin, Mufti Athar Javed were present.
Maulana Ajaz Urfi Qasmi, president of the Tanzeem coordinated the programme.