By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: Scholars, intellectuals and activists from different parts of the country attending an anti-terrorism convention here came down heavily on attempts by Hindu fundamentalist to malign Muslims in the name of terrorism in India, Assam in particular.
The convention also reiterated its fatwa against terrorism issued in 2008.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt during the convention
“A section of Hindu fundamentalist in Intelligence Bureau is trying to portray all the Muslims as terrorists in India and in Assam,” renowned scholar and intellectual of Assam Hiren Gohain said at the anti-terrorism convention organized by Assam State Jamiat Ulama here.
“It’s a conspiracy of a section of Hindu fundamentalist to say that Al Qaeda activities are taking place in Assam. And due to that, we are facing a division between the Hindus and Muslims in the state. A section is always desperately trying to bring division between the two communities,” Gohain said.
Noted scholar Hiren Gohain delivering his lecture
He also drew attention to an important point saying, “A section of police is trying to give Jihadi colour for their promotion. Assam police are working on this line, we need to be united to stop it.”
Observing that “just delivering lectures” will not help in finishing the anti-Islam concept, he said, “I believe lessons should be included in school text books about Islam so that we can understand what Islam is. (Also) proper education should be provided in madrassas along with the importance of modern education that should also be focused upon.”
Assam State Jamiat president Badruddin Ajmal (Left) and all India general secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Mahmood Asad Madani during the convention
Noted scholar and activist Ram Puniyani said terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. “In Quran the word Jihad has been used as many as 42 times but not a single time the word indicates something like murder or violence. Islam never permits killing of innocent people. So how can there be Islamic terrorist? This is created by America. Osama Bin Laden was created by America so that they (USA) can control the global oil market. We must understand these things,” Puniyani said.
Secular activist and renowned filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said a section is trying to portray the Muslims as terrorists for “their political or personal gain. All of us need to be united to clear off terrorism. It has nothing to do with religion.”
People attending the anti-terrorism convention in Guwahti
Reiterating its fatwa against terrorism issued in 2008, the convention categorically said it was unjustified to target or view the entire Muslim community as anti-national for a few who had been arrested for terror links.
The all India general secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Mahmood Asad Madani said that India is the best place for the Muslims to live in. “India is home to 50 per cent of Muslims in the Indian subcontinent. Indian Muslims stayed in India even when the country was partitioned in the name of religion. There is no doubt about Indian Muslims loving their country as much as any other Indians. Despite deprivation, Indian Muslims abstained from waging terrorism even as several groups in the country floated armed outfits,” Madani said.
Around 3,000 people from different parts of the region participated in the convention.