New Delhi: An organisation representing Sufis on Sunday asked the government to alleviate the “sense of fear” among Muslims over riots even as it urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rectify “historical blunders” in India that brought in extremist ideologies threatening the community.
The All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) also urged governments across the world including the Modi government to “revive” Sufism in their bid to combat terrorism.
“There is a sense of fear among Muslims due to riots. Government should alleviate this fear and Union home ministry should spell out what steps have been taken with regard to all the small or big communal incidents and riots that have taken place so far in different parts of the country,” the AIUMB said in a 25-point declaration released at a mass congregation at Ram Lila Maidan to mark the conclusion of the first World Sufi Forum here.
Addressing the congregation, AIUMB president Syed Mohammad Ashraf asked Prime Minister Modi to “rectify historic blunders” and pay heed to the community’s demands including initiation of measures to tackle the trend of replacing Sufism by extremist ideologies.
Ashraf expressed concern that there have been “concerted efforts” to weaken Sufism in India and to replace it with “extremist and radical” ideologies and sought the government’s intervention in arresting the trend.
“In the past few decades, there have been concerted efforts to weaken Sufism in India and replace it with extremist and radical ideology... The phenomenon is dangerous, not just for the Muslim community but also for the country. We request the Prime Minister to rectify these historical blunders,” he said.
He also said there has been a lack of representation for majority of the Muslim populace on “key positions” and urged the government to look into it. The outfit denounced “every course” of sectarianism and described it as “threat to India’s solidarity”.
Education can help counter radicalisation, says Qadri
Use of religion to drive terrorism should be considered an act of “high treason” and India and Pakistan must act tough to check radicalisation and spread of extremism, said a powerful Pakistani cleric, whose massive protest in Islamabad a-year-and-half ago had shaken the Nawaz Sharif dispensation.
Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said India and Pakistan should introduce counter-radicalisation curriculum in schools, colleges, universities, madr-asas and religious institutions to shield youths from being brainwashed into taking up arms.
The cleric said terror outfits exploiting religion to spread terrorism must be dealt with very strongly.
“This is a criminal act. If Jaish (JeM), if Lashkar (LeT), if Al Qaeda, ISIS or if there is any Hindu outfit using religion in order to perform terrorism, then very strong action should be taken,” he said.
