Mangaluru, May 14: Opining that strengthening democratic progressive forces is the need of hour to check communal forces in the country, P.A. Mohammed Riyas, national president of Democratic Youth Federation of India said that minority communalism will never succeed in annihilating majority communalism.
Speaking after inaugurating a two-day Muslim Youth Conference organised by the Dakshina Kannada unit of the DYFI in the city on Sunday, he asked Muslim youth not to get misled and join fundamentalist groups. “Youths from minority communities joining fundamentalist organisations to resist the RSS-backed majority is a dangerous trend,” he said.
“We should understand that we cannot defeat one sort of fundamentalism with another sort. Minority communalism will never succeed in annihilating majority communalism as they are two sides of same coin,” he felt.
“Muslim youths should actively fight neo-liberalism. If they are misled and join fundamental groups, it will weaken the popular movements and support the Sangh Parivar’s communal agenda,” said Riyas.
“Like all other religions, Islam preaches tolerance and humanity. Communal activities in the name of Islam are against the nation and the spirit of Islam. Muslims, the marginalised and Dalits are living in insecurity from the assaults of communal forces,” he said.
“The Muslim fundamentalism is helpful for the Narendra Modi government who is implementing the twin faced policy of neo-liberalism and communalism,” he said.
Attacking the RSS, he alleged that it was attempting to convert India into a Hindu rashtra. The Sangh Parivar and the BJP-led Union government were extremely intolerant towards anyone who raised their voice for the oppressed sections.
He said that Muslims of the country had played a crucial role in the freedom struggle.
Bahadur Shah Zafar, Badaruddin Tayabji, Bhikari Sheikh, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Waris Ali, Moulana Abdul Kalam Azard were proud faces of the freedom struggle, he said.
Former minister B A Moideen felt although superstition kills the society, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hesitated to pass the anti-superstition bill.
“Prophet Mohammad had opposed superstition in the 7th century and had propagated equality. Muslim community members should support movements for equality. The coastal district will not accept communalism. None from Bappa Beary to Rani Abbakka of Ullal has supported communalism in the region. However, an attempt is being made to sow the seeds of hatred in the minds of the people, which needs to be opposed by all,” he advised.
Muneer Katipalla, State president of the DYFI, said that Muslims were facing challenges from within and outside.
The Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee Report had placed Indian Muslims below Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in backwardness. It was in education, employment, health and economic sectors.
The Union and State governments have been reserving meagre funds in their annual budgets for the welfare of Muslims.
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