By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: “Hum Sookhi Roti Khalenge, Aadhi Roti Khalenge, Bhooke Sojayenge, Har Anayay Aur Atyachar Bardasht Karlenge Aur Kar Bhi Rahe Hain Magar Apni Shanaaqt Aur Identity Ko Kabhi Bhi compromise Nahi Hone Denge Chahe Kuch Hojaye (The community can overcome pangs of hunger and remain engulfed in poverty but will never allow their identity to be challenged at any cost.) Indian Muslims, can never compromise their identity come what may. The powers that may be should take a note of this before indulging into such acts that may prove to be counter-productive”.
The above thoughts were expressed by Maulana Syed Mahmood Asad Madani, national General Secretary of Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind, (JuH), with firm conviction while addressing the Qaumi Ekta Sammelan (National Unity Conference) here at Gandhi Bhavan. The programme was organised under the aegis of Madhya Pradesh unit of JuH and was presided over by the JuH state president Haji Mohammad Haroon.
Maulana Syed Mahmood Asad Madani, national General Secretary of Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind, (JuH), addressing the “Qaumi Ekta Sammelan” (National Unity Conference) in Bhopal at Gandhi Bhavan.
To buttress his stand Maulana Mahmood Madani pointed out to a recent universities research which concluded that whenever attempts are made to snatch away the identity of any religious or cultural community then it becomes vulnerable which is a dangerous portent not only for the community but for the whole society and the nation at large.
“I want to tell those persons, who are our brothers whom we do not hate, to see reason and not become tools to break the country. These brothers, who are seething in anger due to some misunderstanding and indulging in the act to snatch the identity of people of certain communities, should restrain themselves as their line of action would spell disaster and be very harmful for the country”, Maulana cautioned.
Maulana Mahmood Madani advised Muslims to change the style of presenting themselves in society while ignoring the aggressive threats posed by the hate-mongers. They should handle the hate-mongers, who apparently appear to be mentally ill, with love and sympathy. They should tell this miniscule entity of society at large that Islam is a religion which symbolizes peace, universal brotherhood, love and goodwill towards all, helping the oppressed and downtrodden, the poorest of the poor and destitute of society, without any distinction of religion, caste or creed.
Maulana Madani without naming the party in power at the Centre said: “With all confidence and certainty at my command I say that in the race for political power in India any group or party may come and go but none can change its future path which is destined to be secular by all means and none can deviate it. It is in the genes and DNA of the people of the country to assimilate whoever comes into their contact while each maintains its own identity. The sentiment of brotherhood, sympathy and sharing the grief of each other is not dead in the country”.
Veteran journalist Lajja Shankar Herdenia, who is a well-known activist & fighter for the cause of Secularism and democratic rights, speaking at the “Qaumi Ekta Sammelan”.
The Maulana pointed out that India is our country and they enjoyed an ‘equal status’ as bestowed by the Constitution. The country cannot progress without granting equality to Muslims and other minorities, he asserted.
He said it is the hallmark of Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind which had opposed the two nation theory at the time of partition due to religious reasons while Maulana Abul Kalam Azad had resisted it and argued on political grounds. “The two nation theory was opposed by JuH in the light of teachings of the Holy Quran and the Hadith and as such it was an un-Islamic demand then”, the Maulana revealed. He sad that Muslims, who are the second largest majority, in the country are Indians by choice and not by chance when they had an option to migrate across the border they had adopted India as their homeland. While other non-Muslims had no such option before them and they are Indian citizens only by chance.
India is a unique country wherein people of different religions, cultures, languages reside and as such it is most diverse society of the world. However, despite such diversity there is unity in the country and India has progressed since Independence. But the communal forces after catapulting to power are weaving nefarious designs to break this unity for their vested interests. This would impede the progress and development of the country, Maulana warned.
He opined that Indian Muslims, who are nearly one-fourth of the world Muslim population, as compared to Muslims of the Indian Sub-Continent are better off despite many shortcomings and denial of their rights as a minority community.
He appealed the Muslims not to get depressed but arm themselves adequately with the jewel of knowledge then none can ignore them. “Education should be the topmost priority of the Muslims in the present era as the world has become a global village wherein the doors have been flung open for one and all”.
Bhopal Archbishop Dr. Leo Cornelio addressing the “Qaumi Ekta Sammelan”.
Veteran journalist Lajja Shankar Herdenia, a well-known activist & fighter for the cause of Secularism and democratic rights, speaking on the occasion warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to trample upon the United Nations Charter for Minorities. Otherwise multitudes of Indians would approach the UNO not to allow him enter the United Nations. All the member countries of the UNO have signed the charter to uphold its provisions and protect minorities while paving way for their progress and development.
He hoped that Modi would honour in letter and spirit the United Nations Charter for Minorities and not remain a mute spectator while the divisive forces try put to shreds the secular and harmonious ethos of the Indian society from time immemorial. He should assert himself to discipline the Hindutva forces, who are hell bent to bring about change in the Indian Constitutional set-up wherein the secular and socialist character of the country is lost.
It may be noted here that Herdenia during his speech castigated RSS and its various affiliates for their divisive policies and spewing poison against the minorities, especially Muslims. While Maulana Mahmood Madani all through his speech remained calm and composed and did not take name of the RSS or Hindutva forces even once but where he trained his gun was evident to one and all.
Meanwhile, Haji Mohammad Haroon in an emotional speech demanded that the elements which are indulging in “Ghar Wapsi” and instigating communal strife to destabilise the country by spreading the poison of communalism should be sent to mental asylum and not jails as they have become mentally ill.
A section of the audience at the “Qaumi Ekta Sammelan” in Bhopal.
Haji Haroon said that more than 50,000 Ulema (Islamic clerics) were in the forefront of the freedom struggle who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country. The hard earned freedom to live in a secular society gained by our ancestors will not be allowed to go to dogs by the nefarious designs of a handful of lunatics. Branding of Muslims as “terrorists, separatists, oppressors and aggressors’ by a section of communal forces would not be tolerated at all, he thundered.
Others who spoke on the occasion included religious head of Sikhs Gyani Harjeet Singh, Bhopal Archbishop Dr. Leo Cornelio, Gandhi Bhavan trustee Ram Prasad Bhargav, Jamaat-e-Islami MP unit president Dr. Hamid Baig, SDPI state president Adv. Sajid Siddiqui, Muslim Majlis Mashawarat member Prof. Mateen Ahmad Sidiqui, Jameat Ahl-e-Hadees president Maulana Hamid-ur-Rahman, Juh state vice president Maulana Basheer Ahmad Mazahiri, All India Muslim Personal Board member Maulana Masih Alam Jamaee, Mirza Shabbeer Baig, Maulana Hifz-ur-Rahman etc. The programme was conducted by Basheer Baig.