Mangaluru, Nov 2: Shaikh A P Aboobakar Ahmed Musliyar, the general secretary of All India Sunni Jamiyyatul Ulema, exhorted the people of Karnataka, to give utmost priority to communal harmony, brotherhood and national integrity.
He was addressing thousands of activists of Sunni Students Federation during the valedictory function of Karnataka Yatra at Nehru Maidan in the city on Sunday evening.
The Yatra, which covered Gulbarga, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Hubli, Haveri, Bellary, Davangere, Shimoga, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Hasan, Tumkur, Bangalore, Ramnagar, Mandya, Mysore, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts under the leadership of Musliyar in nine days, was organized under the theme Respect the Mankind' to mark the silver jubilee of SSF.
In his 15-minute speech in Malayalam, the Musliyar reiterated thrice that being Indians we should always uphold the integrity of the country. “We all are Indians. Being Indians, Muslims should always be at the forefront in safeguarding the nation's security and integrity,” he said.
He, however, pointed out that harassing innocent civilians in the name of nation's security is condemnable.
Asserting that India is blessed with a great constitution and best rule of law machinery, he said those who violate law and take law into their hands deserve stringent action.
Laying emphasis on the importance of preserving and promoting communal harmony, he warned that disharmony and internal conflicts are always a threat for nation's integrity.
“In case there have been differences of opinion between Hindus and Muslims in certain issues, leaders of both communities should come together to sort out the problems,” he suggested.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah, Pejwar Mutt chief pontiff Visweswara Theertha Swamy, Forest minister B Ramanath Rai, Heatlh Minister U T Khader, Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake and other prominent social, religious and political leaders, who were present at the programme, hailed the nine-day long Karnataka Yatra of Musliyar and expressed all support to him.
Speaking on the occasion Siddaramaiah said that the government would deal with acts of extremism or communalism with an iron fist irrespective of political pressures. He said that those indulging in such acts should remember that they would be harming their own brethren.
He said it was heartening to learn that Musliyar led the Yatre for about 2,700 kms from Kalaburgi to Mangaluru in nine days spreading the message of harmony.
With the improvement of literacy, it is tragic that more educated youth are deviating from the mainstream and resorting to extremism and communalism, he said.
In such a situation, efforts to inculcate moral values among the youth were welcome. If anybody indulges in extremist or communal activities, the government would not tolerate the same and would curb such acts, he said.
The CM said some term his acts as appeasement of minorities. “But I am discharging the constitutional obligation of ensuring equality to all through many schemes and actions,” he said referring to welfare schemes and administrative actions.
He urged the massive gathering of the youth to vow that they would not indulge in extremist activities.
On the occasion, philanthropist Dr Shamsheer, the son in law of M A Yousuff Ali was conferred with Markaz Humanitarian Youth Award. NRI activist Shaikh Bawa was conferred with Human Service Award.
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