Now, DYFI takes up a sensational cause: Muslim empowerment

Mangaluru, May 10: After several weeks of social media campaign, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has formally announced its plan to reach out Muslim community by holding a two-day Muslim youth conference on May 14 and 15 in the city.

According to Muneer Katipalla, DYFI State president, the conference would focus on the theme, “Secularism, empowerment and progressiveness” and discuss the issues pertaining Muslims comprehensively and suggest measures to address them.

National president of DYFI Mohammed Riyas is expected to inaugurate the conference at Shanti Nilaya, Balmatta. Writers Ramzan Darga, Banu Mushtaq, N.A.M. Ismail, Rahmat Tarikere, Dinesh Ameen Mattu, B.M. Basheer and Phaniraj K. would speak on different topics.

G.V. Srirama Reddy, leader of the CPI (M), Muzaffar Assadi, a political analyst, B. Peer Basha, social activist, and others are also expected to speak.

Addressing media persons in the city on Tuesday, Mr Katipalla said that the Muslim community was facing challenges from within and outside.

The Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee had placed Indian Muslims below Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in backwardness. It was so in the education, employment, health and economic sectors.

He said that a majority of areas in which Muslims lived have become like slums. Local civic bodies have not been showing interest to provide infrastructure to such areas.

The Union and State governments have been reserving meagre fund in their annual budgets for the welfare of Muslims.

Society has not been treating them fairly, by looking at their food habits and dress code with suspicion. They have been facing humiliation in many sectors of society. If Muslims have been suffering from poverty on the one hand, they are becoming victims of increasing communalism on the other.

He said that Muslims were now in a crisis as the government in several States have been arresting what he claimed were innocent Muslim youths on the charge that they were supporting terrorism.

With delay in the disposal of cases, such youths have been spending their valuable life in jails. Some extremists have also been misusing some disgusted youth for their activities.

Mr. Katipalla said that there were certain pre-conceived notions about Muslims. The conference would also focus on removing them.