The efforts of RSS have now gone one step further and Muslim Ulemas have also joined it. As part of these efforts, a three-hour-long marathon meeting of RSS leaders with Muslim intellectuals and Ulemas took place on January 14 in the new year.
New Delhi: As part of the exercise of bringing the country's Hindus and Muslims on a single platform, efforts are being made by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for contact and dialogue with the Muslim intellectuals of the country. The RSS effort has now gone a step further and Muslim Ulemas have also joined it.
As part of these efforts, a three-hour long marathon meeting of RSS leaders with Muslim intellectuals and ulemas was held on January 14 in the new year, in which Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent interview, Kashi's Gyanvapi Masjid and Mathura's Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi issues were discussed. Controversies related to cow slaughter, mob lynching, controversial statements coming from both sides as well as the issue of not using the word Kafir were also discussed.
20 people from both sides were present in the meeting
In this marathon meeting, it was decided that both the sides would first go ahead with the issues of consensus and harmony and soon another big meeting would be held from both the sides. Krishna Gopal, Ramlal and Indresh Kumar attended the meeting held on January 14 at the residence of former Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung in Delhi's Daryaganj. On the other hand, along with Najeeb Jung, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi, former MP Shahid Siddiqui, industrialist and philanthropist Saeed Sherwani, Malik Mohtsim Khan from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maulana Niyaz Farooqi from Mahmood Madani faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. And about 20 people from both sides including Maulana Fazlur Rehman Qasmi from Arshad Madani faction of Jamiat, Salman Chishti from Ajmer Sharif, Aligarh Muslim University professor and Islamic studies expert were present in the meeting.
'...so that peace and harmony can prevail in the society'
Former MP Shahid Siddiqui said that it was agreed in the meeting that both the parties should move forward on the issues agreed upon earlier, so that peace and harmony can be maintained in the society. He also told that soon another big meeting will be held from both the sides, in which many important issues will be discussed. It was discussed to hold such meetings in different parts of the country as well.
Shahid Siddiqui said that the issue of the recent interview given by Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat was raised by the Muslim side, in response to which the Sangh leaders read out the Hindi interview published in Panchjanya. A Sangh leader who attended the meeting said that after listening to Panchjanya's interview, the people of the Muslim side also accepted that the Sangh chief's interview was distorted in the wrong context.
The Muslim side also raised the issue of mob lynching
When the Sangh raised the issue of Kashi and Mathura in the meeting, it was clearly said from the Muslim side that both these issues can be resolved only through the court. The issue of mob lynching was raised by the Muslim side, which was also considered wrong by the RSS leaders. On the other hand, on behalf of the Sangh leaders respecting Hindu sentiments and raising the issue of cow slaughter, it was said from the Muslim side that if the government wants to enact a law banning cow slaughter in the whole country, then they have no objection and they will will support.
The issue of use of the word Kafir also came up in the meeting. According to sources, it was said on behalf of the Sangh leaders that the nation unites everyone. There are different sects in every community, so whosoever believes in God i.e. God in any form, then how can he be called a Kafir? On which the Muslim side even the Muslim Ulemas accepted that using the word Kafir in the context of Hindustan and Hindus is totally wrong and inappropriate and it should not be used at all.
Hope more doors will open: Shahid Siddiqui
At the same time, Shahid Siddiqui further said that all issues were discussed in a very cordial atmosphere in the meeting. Describing it as an ice-breaking meeting, he said that it was our attempt to open a window between the two communities and he hoped that more doors would open.
It may be noted that Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat had met a section of Muslim intellectuals in New Delhi on August 22 last year as part of an exercise to increase contact and dialogue with the Muslim community and this meeting on January 14 this year was a continuation of the same series. Was part and many more such meetings are to be held in the coming days under this campaign.